Santa Cruz and North Seymour Islands
Our beautiful day started with the expectancy of observing the Galápagos giant tortoises in the wild. After an early wake up call and a very light breakfast, everybody disembarked ready for the day’s adventure. We took buses up to the highlands of Santa Cruz, passing the little towns of Puerto Ayora, Bella Vista and Santa Rosa. As we approached the tortoise reserve, we began to see these wonderful giant reptiles from the bus! We stepped off the buses and went in search of more tortoises.
Our Naturalists told us about the captive breeding program that the Galápagos National Park Service is involved with to repatriate tortoises to the wilds and increase their populations. Sadly, after the Spanish Bishop Tomas de Berlanga discovered the islands by accident back in 1535, buccaneers, pirates and whalers almost depleted the populations of Galápagos Giant Tortoises on several of the islands. Because they are able to survive without drinking or eating for well over a year, they were a great source of food and oil for sailors. The giant tortoises were taken away by the thousands in the holds of sailing vessels. Early colonists who inhabited the islands in the early 1800 and 1900’s also ate tortoise meat and used their fat to produce oil.
We boarded the buses and drove to the entrance to a naturally formed lava tunnel. Many of us hiked the quarter mile underground through this dimly lit tunnel and then climbed out at the foot of a restaurant where the rest of our group had just begun breakfast. After a delicious meal, we drove down to Puerto Ayora where we did some shopping or visited the Charles Darwin Research Station. Back on board the Islander ,we had lunch and travelled to North Seymour Island.
The afternoon disembarkation was rough, but by now, every body knows the drill, and we did quite well. From the shore of North Seymour we had a great view of the huge surf, nesting frigate birds, sea lions, and marine iguanas. A couple of colourful adult male land iguanas wandered around at our very feet. This was one of several highlights on this wonderful and exiting day.
Our beautiful day started with the expectancy of observing the Galápagos giant tortoises in the wild. After an early wake up call and a very light breakfast, everybody disembarked ready for the day’s adventure. We took buses up to the highlands of Santa Cruz, passing the little towns of Puerto Ayora, Bella Vista and Santa Rosa. As we approached the tortoise reserve, we began to see these wonderful giant reptiles from the bus! We stepped off the buses and went in search of more tortoises.
Our Naturalists told us about the captive breeding program that the Galápagos National Park Service is involved with to repatriate tortoises to the wilds and increase their populations. Sadly, after the Spanish Bishop Tomas de Berlanga discovered the islands by accident back in 1535, buccaneers, pirates and whalers almost depleted the populations of Galápagos Giant Tortoises on several of the islands. Because they are able to survive without drinking or eating for well over a year, they were a great source of food and oil for sailors. The giant tortoises were taken away by the thousands in the holds of sailing vessels. Early colonists who inhabited the islands in the early 1800 and 1900’s also ate tortoise meat and used their fat to produce oil.
We boarded the buses and drove to the entrance to a naturally formed lava tunnel. Many of us hiked the quarter mile underground through this dimly lit tunnel and then climbed out at the foot of a restaurant where the rest of our group had just begun breakfast. After a delicious meal, we drove down to Puerto Ayora where we did some shopping or visited the Charles Darwin Research Station. Back on board the Islander ,we had lunch and travelled to North Seymour Island.
The afternoon disembarkation was rough, but by now, every body knows the drill, and we did quite well. From the shore of North Seymour we had a great view of the huge surf, nesting frigate birds, sea lions, and marine iguanas. A couple of colourful adult male land iguanas wandered around at our very feet. This was one of several highlights on this wonderful and exiting day.
