Santa Cruz Island
Our destination today was the Charles Darwin Research Station. We are currently located at Santa Cruz Island, the second largest island in the archipelago.
Today we disembarked to go to Puerto Ayora and it was hot and sunny. We walked through a very green area full of local vegetation, like the gigantic prickly pear, in order to get to the rearing center for giant tortoises.
Once we arrived at the Charles Darwin Research Station, we were able to observe the tortoise breeding center. The baby tortoises are contained here until they reach the rat-proof age. We had the chance to be very close to the giant tortoises and their babies, as well as the world-famous Lonesome George. We also saw Diego, a male saddleback tortoise from Española which was taken by the San Diego Zoo, then returned to Galápagos in order to save its species.
Later in the morning, we took buses up into the highlands of Santa Cruz and on the way guests had the opportunity to bike or walk toward the restaurant. After lunch we went to visit the giant tortoises in the wild, saw the sink holes and the giant daisies (scalesia). After seeing these amazing geological formations, we continued on our short bus ride to search for the giant tortoises.
As it was rainy, we wore rubber boots and had a great time walking through the mud, wet grass and forest. Finding tortoises in fresh water ponds, watching them drinking water and feeding on the vegetation in their natural habitat, was an awesome experience. We counted a few, but I think the most impressive moment was when we decided to go into the National Park and we had an encounter with a giant one on site; sure enough, there it was walking towards us, an over-500-pound reptile with a majestic shell staring at us.
Today’s visit was outstanding!
