Santa Cruz Island
Our day started early in the morning today. The first rays of sun warmed our bodies while we were already on our way to the highlands of Santa Cruz. Our expectations were high, and they involved the sighting of the famous Galápagos giant tortoises wandering freely in the ever green highlands.
The path lead us to the area were the tortoises are usually found early in the morning, and the weather couldn’t have been better during the whole time that we were searching for them. It was nice to feel the cool breeze blowing gently on our faces and the fresh scent of humid forest could be felt all over and around us. The whole picture: the tortoises, the wetlands, the forest, the shore birds, the lagoon; all seemed to be brought from a painting with splashes of colors all over it.
We combined this outing with a visit to the lava tunnels of the area. Some of us even had the chance to walk through this impressive formation, and by the end, a restaurant with a buffet-style breakfast was waiting.
Right after breakfast, a half an hour bus ride took us to Puerto Ayora, the largest human settlement in the Galápagos. Shopping for T-shirts and souvenirs was almost a must in what is also known as “the T-shirt capital of South America.”
Our objective during the afternoon was the small island of North Seymour. Thousands of sea birds, such as frigate birds and blue-footed boobies were found literally in the middle of the path. Later on we strolled along the coastal area of the island, encountering many of the juvenile sea lions that, as usual, were sunbathing on the sandy patches of the island.
Our day started early in the morning today. The first rays of sun warmed our bodies while we were already on our way to the highlands of Santa Cruz. Our expectations were high, and they involved the sighting of the famous Galápagos giant tortoises wandering freely in the ever green highlands.
The path lead us to the area were the tortoises are usually found early in the morning, and the weather couldn’t have been better during the whole time that we were searching for them. It was nice to feel the cool breeze blowing gently on our faces and the fresh scent of humid forest could be felt all over and around us. The whole picture: the tortoises, the wetlands, the forest, the shore birds, the lagoon; all seemed to be brought from a painting with splashes of colors all over it.
We combined this outing with a visit to the lava tunnels of the area. Some of us even had the chance to walk through this impressive formation, and by the end, a restaurant with a buffet-style breakfast was waiting.
Right after breakfast, a half an hour bus ride took us to Puerto Ayora, the largest human settlement in the Galápagos. Shopping for T-shirts and souvenirs was almost a must in what is also known as “the T-shirt capital of South America.”
Our objective during the afternoon was the small island of North Seymour. Thousands of sea birds, such as frigate birds and blue-footed boobies were found literally in the middle of the path. Later on we strolled along the coastal area of the island, encountering many of the juvenile sea lions that, as usual, were sunbathing on the sandy patches of the island.
