Santa Cruz Island is the most inhabited island in the archipelago, and we started our morning exploration of it by walking to the Charles Darwin Research Station. On our path we observed not only Darwin finches singing but also the lush vegetation that grows here. The Giant Tortoise Breeding Center offers our guests an opportunity to learn about the baby giant tortoises and we paid a visit to Lonesome George, the symbol of conservation on the Islands.
Afterwards, we took a bus that brought us to the highlands. Today we were fortunate to go to El Trapiche farm, where the owner grows coffee and sugar cane. We were delighted to try their products, such as raw sugar, a great cup of coffee, and moonshine.
We had a delicious lunch at Rancho El Manzanillo, which is located right at the migration route of the Santa Cruz giant tortoises. What a great way to end a fantastic day, observing the gentle giants in their natural environment!
