Santa Cruz Island
This day of our expedition around the Galápagos Islands found us anchored in front of Cerro Dragon, located on the southwestern part of Santa Cruz Island. An impressive large rainbow gave us an unexpected but colorful welcoming wake-up call to a brand new day.
Just after breakfast we went for a hike that took us deeper into the dry forests, which are characteristic of this side of this big island, the second largest of the archipelago. We spotted several Galápagos land iguanas during the walk. At the disembarkation place we found many coastal bird species as well. A Great blue heron remained the whole morning posing for our lenses without a concern in the world. A Whimbrel was seen as well, this bird with its long beak and beautiful plumage was strolling along the trail close to the ocean. It was very amusing to observe for a long time and at such close range this bird species that is usually very skittish in other latitudes. After a hike through a very hot and humid climate, we cooled down in the waters of the Pacific. Many adventurous guests opted to snorkel off Guy Fawkes islets while others preferred to swim from the ship. Waters today were very calm, crystalline and turquoise – the perfect conditions for water activities.
In the afternoon, a different but beautiful landscape awaited for us. A short bus ride took us from “Itabaca” Channel to a local rustic but cozy restaurant located in the humid zone of this island, or the highlands, as it is locally known. We started this afternoon’s adventure exploring a lava tunnel. This interesting geological formation is strategically located, for it ends right at the restaurant entrance. We had then a very refreshing snack, sliced fresh fruit and drinks getting ready for the rest of the afternoon. We boarded the buses once more and went to look for the giant tortoises in the wild. We had an almost perfect climate to find them, as it was not raining but was a little overcast with the sun occasionally showing up. We found several individuals of various sizes, which were calmly grazing the green pastures around us. Giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz are found both in National Park areas and on private lands. Tortoises know no boundaries and they migrate from feeding areas to egg-laying grounds throughout the year. What a great feeling it is to observe these gentle giants in their own natural habitat, surrounded by green exuberant vegetation, walking around, eating from the ground or just being there in peace. Late in the afternoon we returned to the ship with our minds and hearts fulfilled with new memories and feelings.
Our expedition this week is reaching its peak; our guests think their experiences could not get any better. In the next days we will prove to them why this magical archipelago is an enchanted one for the best is still yet to come.
