Cerro Dragon & El Eden
This beautiful morning found us anchored on the northern side of Santa Cruz Island. Just when we thought we had seen it all, a new world was presented in front of our eyes. Today’s expedition brought us to a different and wild volcanic landscape. Right after breakfast our trustful Zodiac fleet took us to shore for a hike around a location known locally as “Cerro Dragon” which is Spanish for Dragon Hill. We went in search of Galápagos land iguanas, majestic reptiles found in this paradisiacal visitor site.
Since the mid-1970’s the Galápagos National Park Service (GNPS) in conjunction with the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) have been working on the restoration of the endangered population of Galápagos land iguanas in these areas. Unfortunately, feral dogs were fiercely decimating the iguanas at a fast rate. We witnessed firsthand the success and great progress of both, the dog eradication program and the repatriation of land iguanas to this area. These titanic efforts are sincerely praiseworthy. Nowadays, the Galápagos land iguanas of Cerro Dragon have a better ecosystem to carry on with their lives. The restoration of the land iguanas in this area is only one example of the superb efforts the GNPS and the CDRS have made over many years to maintain and restore the various ecosystems of the islands.
With excitement and admiration we observed several individuals along the trail. One Land iguana in particular was very special, for it was found just in the middle of the trail. Its beautiful good-looks and bright colors provoked the admiration of its observers.
Immediately after coming back from the walk we got ready for our next morning’s activity. A soft cool breeze and the sun shining were our companions while snorkeling around Guy Fawkes Islet, a tuff cone with impressive marine life.
In the afternoon, after a spectacular Ecuadorian lunch, our ship was repositioned to a paradisiacal area: “El Eden”. A peculiar volcanic tuff cone dominates the rough volcanic landscape of the surroundings. Different activities that included kayaking, snorkeling, Zodiac cruises and Zodiac driving lessons were practiced by all. Many-blue footed boobies were seen plunge diving from the Zodiacs.
Later in the afternoon, just when the sun was setting we circumnavigated Daphne Major Island. The latter island has become an icon for evolutionary sciences; it is where scientists Rosemary and Peter Grant have been studying Darwin finches for decades. The Grants’ studies are extremely important and famous, for they have demonstrated to the scientific community that evolution can in fact take place in a very short period of time.
Today, our minds and hearts have been fulfilled with beauty, fun, wilderness, adventure, conservation and science, provoking indescribable feelings of having spent a full day exploring exotic and remote locations of the Enchanted Islands.
