We awoke today surrounded by “civilization!” After several days in the outer islands with very few other boats as company, the harbor full of yachts and ships and fishing boats and the shore lined with houses was a shock. But Puerto Ayora is a lovely and friendly town and we thoroughly enjoyed our day, visiting first the town itself and the scientific institutions, and then the highlands.
We had many excursion options today: we saw the captive breeding center where tortoises are raised and repatriated, then walked through town and admired the busy fish market! We boarded the buses and drove into the highlands where we visited a lava tube and a coffee and sugar cane farm before enjoying a bountiful buffet lunch at Rancho Manzanillo. Tortoises were everywhere on the Rancho, there were literally hundreds of them for us to watch and photograph this afternoon!
Later, back on the ship we had our evening recap and briefing and dinner and then we were well entertained by a local music and dance group. Yet another fabulous day in las islas encantadas!
