Today we had another magical exploration of the spectacular landscapes of the Galapagos. From a tiny zig-zag endemic spider to abundant giant Galapagos tortoises, we had a full day of inspiring encounters. We began with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a meaningful place for me as I worked here for four years. Here, we learned about endemic plants and insects, which illustrated the uniqueness of the ecological communities existing in the Galapagos. To see the different shapes of Galapagos tortoises’ shells, and the fascinating behavior of the zig-zag spider to avoid predators, some of the many living examples of evolution in action. Then, we learned from the efforts of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation to overcome the negative impacts that invasive species bring to the native flora and fauna. This place also allowed us to observe the different shapes of Galapagos tortoises’ shells.
After such a great beginning, our explorers had some free time to explore the colorful streets of Puerto Ayora and to enjoy the variety of local handcraft shops along the main avenue. To finish our morning, we hit the road to the highlands of Santa Cruz, with a first stop in “El Trapiche”, a rural farm where we learned how to local people process sugar cane, coffee and a wide variety of fruits. This encounter with local farmers was a great opportunity to connect and learn from the peaceful and sustainable way of life occurring in the Galapagos countryside.
The afternoon continued with more magical encounters. We met again with giant tortoises, although this time they were roaming freely in their natural habitat. Giant tortoises were spotted even from the bus as we reached our destination, so we had a lot of fun just counting how many we could see. We all agreed we saw at least thirty of them, even before arriving to our destiny farm, which has protected areas where tortoises can transit freely. To close this part of our adventure, each one of our explorers had the time to enjoy a personal moment with these charismatic creatures. Some of us even witnessed a mating episode, although we ended deciding to give them some privacy.
We ended this fascinating day with a musical performance from a local group, and an artistic presentation by local artists. One of the privileges of working as a naturalist in the Galapagos is having the chance to share life-changing experiences everyday with people from all around the world. Today I confirmed this great feeling.
