San Cristobal Island

Feb 09, 2020 - National Geographic Islander

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Almost every large island of the Galapagos has a unique species of giant tortoise. On this trip, we had the opportunity to see the Santa Cruz giant tortoise as well as the San Cristobal giant tortoise – seen in a man-made pond at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center in the highlands of San Cristobal Island.

Today we woke up by the coast off San Cristobal, one of the oldest islands of the Galapagos. After breakfast, we had a Zodiac ride along the shore and then disembarked to visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center in the highlands.

In the afternoon, we hiked Tijeretas Hill and spotted the San Cristobal mockingbird, one of four species of mockingbirds found in the Galapagos. We also talked about the ecology of dry forests and the adaptations made by different species of trees in order to survive the dry months. At the top of Tijeretas Hill we enjoyed a spectacular coastal view of San Cristobal Island.

We ended our day with an amazing performance by local artists on board National Geographic Islander, as guests enjoyed traditional dance and music from Ecuador.

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About the Author

Javier Carrion

Naturalist

Javier grew up on Santa Cruz island where his grandparents first arrived in the 1940´s. Veritable pioneers, his grandparents settled in the highlands where they found a place to raise their children.

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