Santa Cruz Island
Early in the morning, we disembarked at the Galápagos National Park’s dock to visit the rearing center of giant tortoises. Since ancient times, until the early settlers, these creatures were slaughtered to be used as meat for eating and fuel for oil lamps. Today we learned about the efforts of the Galápagos National Park Service to protect and preserve this symbolic species of the Galápagos Islands.
When the Park was established in 1959, a survey was started to establish the status of the population of tortoises in the islands. Numbers for these gentle giants had diminished dangerously, and a program was started to restore their numbers. This program was based on breeding tortoises in captivity and releasing the babies in restored locations in the wild. Today we saw juveniles, learned about the incubation system and also saw several giant adult individuals. Number have increased to make some of the populations today at safe levels.
After this interesting lesson of successful conservation of an endemic species, we walked from the Station to enjoy downtown Puerto Ayora and shopping for typical handcrafts. Some had a drink in a local cafe or invited the guides to have an ice-cream.
Before lunch, we stopped at a mill, where we learned about sugar cane turning into juice and later into an alcoholic beverage. A sample tasting among our guests produced a rise of our spirits and a general sense of good humor. Right afterward we crossed through a dark lava tube, a life-long memory for many.
Our afternoon included a visit to the highlands of Santa Cruz, and a lesson on how daisies can grow very tall, about 21 feet to be accurate. Two pit craters increased the appeal of the Scalesia forest. A ride back down to town ended our afternoon.
After dinner, the musicians of Eco Arte, a dancing group that came on board our ship from Puerto Ayora, added a great deal of fun. They shared South American music, complete with choreography and colorful costumes.
Today was another day in paradise!
