Santa Cruz Island
Our visit started at eight in the morning and by then, the Islander was already anchored off Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. Everybody was very excited and waiting for what was promised, a full Giant Tortoises Day!
We started from Puerto Ayora, the capital of the tourism and the conservation activities in the islands. It was our gateway to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and observe firsthand the captive breeding program of giant tortoises and land iguanas. Some of our guests were very intrigued with one of the tortoises, named “Lonesome George.” I was asked about the origin of the name, but before I could respond, somebody impressed me by shouting, “George Gobel!” Indeed the name of the tortoise refers to this American-origin comedian, who was the star of his own weekly NBC television show, which aired from 1954 to 1960.
Then, we went up to the highlands to visit “El Chato Reserve”. I have to mention our delicious BBQ style lunch which was promptly served upon our arrival to the highlands. To begin our after lunch adventure, we took a short bus ride and reached the main trail up to a fresh water pond. Here we found the emblematic reptiles known as the Galápagos giant tortoises, in the wild. Moorhens and the white cheeked pintails where also part of the scenery at the lagoon, as they happily swam on the same waters where the tortoises were found.
We all, naturalists and guests, were very happy to found the vermilion flycatcher, one of the most colorful land birds of this area. A little bit of geology was the perfect touch to complete our afternoon, as we visited two crater-like formations known as “The twins or Los Gemelos.” The area was surrounded by an endemic Scalesia forest, where lots of Darwin finches and yellow warblers were found, as well.
Our visit started at eight in the morning and by then, the Islander was already anchored off Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. Everybody was very excited and waiting for what was promised, a full Giant Tortoises Day!
We started from Puerto Ayora, the capital of the tourism and the conservation activities in the islands. It was our gateway to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and observe firsthand the captive breeding program of giant tortoises and land iguanas. Some of our guests were very intrigued with one of the tortoises, named “Lonesome George.” I was asked about the origin of the name, but before I could respond, somebody impressed me by shouting, “George Gobel!” Indeed the name of the tortoise refers to this American-origin comedian, who was the star of his own weekly NBC television show, which aired from 1954 to 1960.
Then, we went up to the highlands to visit “El Chato Reserve”. I have to mention our delicious BBQ style lunch which was promptly served upon our arrival to the highlands. To begin our after lunch adventure, we took a short bus ride and reached the main trail up to a fresh water pond. Here we found the emblematic reptiles known as the Galápagos giant tortoises, in the wild. Moorhens and the white cheeked pintails where also part of the scenery at the lagoon, as they happily swam on the same waters where the tortoises were found.
We all, naturalists and guests, were very happy to found the vermilion flycatcher, one of the most colorful land birds of this area. A little bit of geology was the perfect touch to complete our afternoon, as we visited two crater-like formations known as “The twins or Los Gemelos.” The area was surrounded by an endemic Scalesia forest, where lots of Darwin finches and yellow warblers were found, as well.
