Santa Cruz Island
We wake up in Academy Bay where the largest town of the Galapagos Islands, Puerto Ayora, is located, with a population of 17.000 people. Departing early in the morning we head to visit the Darwin Foundation and National Park breeding program of Galapagos giant tortoises. There we have the chance to see them from when they come out of the egg until they grow enough to be taken back to their original island and recolonize it.
Close by is the town where there is the possibility to visit its people and observe their daily life until the time comes to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz, the Trapiche, where we were able to see the artisan production of sugarcane and coffee.
Lunch time is there and we reach El Chato area, which is the reserve for giant tortoises in the wild. There we enjoyed a delicious local meal with a panoramic view of the west side of the island. After that we get to the area where we spot several giant tortoises and went for a walk around their natural environment on this island. Before leaving this place we had the chance to actually get under the earth inside a lava tunnel, which gave us a new perspective of the island formation.
After visiting this island we head back to the National Geographic Islander, on which we were able to enjoy unique music and artistic dances from local Galapagenians with a mix of Andean music. A good way to experience the creativity of locals.
