Santa Cruz Island
It is early in the morning and we have just anchored off Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. We are getting ready to explore the island. At 8:15 am we landed at the Galápagos National Park jetty, and we headed to the Charles Darwin Research Station. In this center we learned all the details of the conservation work that is being carried out by these institutions in order to restore endangered species and ecosystems throughout the Galápagos.
During our visit we saw giant tortoises of all sizes. Some of them were babies no older than five years of age; these babies are raised as part of a captive breeding program. With no trace of doubt, the highlight of the place is the legendary Lonesome George; he is the last survivor of the northern island of Pinta. Pinta Island was a popular port of call for pirates, seal hunters and whale hunters, therefore the tortoises that evolved on this desolate island are gone today except for George…the last of its kind.
In the afternoon we explored the highlands of Santa Cruz. This island is the second largest one of the archipelago. It is home to more than 3,000 giant tortoises that inhabit the southwestern slope of this major island. As a result of its altitude, Santa Cruz Island has vast green areas where big trees are lush all year round. In fact, it looks like a jungle region glowing with life; tall trees covered with epiphytes, vines, ferns and myriads of Darwin’s finches.
A special treat was our visit to the tortoises’ reserve. This large area of grassland has become an oasis of life for land birds, migratory bird species and the emblematic Galápagos giant tortoises that can be seen everywhere like giant moving boulders placidly grazing on the seasonal pastures.
It is early in the morning and we have just anchored off Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. We are getting ready to explore the island. At 8:15 am we landed at the Galápagos National Park jetty, and we headed to the Charles Darwin Research Station. In this center we learned all the details of the conservation work that is being carried out by these institutions in order to restore endangered species and ecosystems throughout the Galápagos.
During our visit we saw giant tortoises of all sizes. Some of them were babies no older than five years of age; these babies are raised as part of a captive breeding program. With no trace of doubt, the highlight of the place is the legendary Lonesome George; he is the last survivor of the northern island of Pinta. Pinta Island was a popular port of call for pirates, seal hunters and whale hunters, therefore the tortoises that evolved on this desolate island are gone today except for George…the last of its kind.
In the afternoon we explored the highlands of Santa Cruz. This island is the second largest one of the archipelago. It is home to more than 3,000 giant tortoises that inhabit the southwestern slope of this major island. As a result of its altitude, Santa Cruz Island has vast green areas where big trees are lush all year round. In fact, it looks like a jungle region glowing with life; tall trees covered with epiphytes, vines, ferns and myriads of Darwin’s finches.
A special treat was our visit to the tortoises’ reserve. This large area of grassland has become an oasis of life for land birds, migratory bird species and the emblematic Galápagos giant tortoises that can be seen everywhere like giant moving boulders placidly grazing on the seasonal pastures.
