Santa Cruz Island

The GNP’s main headquarters are located on Santa Cruz Island in Puerto Ayora. The successful management of both the Galápagos National Park (GNP) and the Galápagos Marine Reserve has set a worldwide example. Their success has been the result of both Ecuadorian and international joint efforts over the past 50 years. This year it is the 50th anniversary of the Galápagos National Park Service, and this event will surely be commemorated.

This morning we paid a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) in order to learn more about the various conservation programs in Galápagos. At the Darwin Station, we could observe several Galápagos giant tortoises. Since 1964, this Research Station has dedicated huge efforts to the restoration of Giant tortoise populations on various islands. The CDRS is also home of the famous ‘Lonesome George’, the last surviving tortoise of Pinta Island’s subspecies. A brief stop by his corral was a must. Afterwards, our guests had a chance to visit the town of Puerto Ayora, and take a walk along the famous ‘t-shirt mile’. It is a lively town, initially founded by a group of Norwegians. However, its population nowadays is almost entirely Ecuadorian.

Our afternoon was dedicated to exploring the highlands of Santa Cruz. It is one of the few islands with moist uplands. It also is home to an endemic population of giant tortoises. Large, dome-shaped tortoises are typical of humid islands, and that is exactly what we encountered during our walk.

Amidst a Scalesia forest, an endemic tree related to sunflowers, we found two natural geological formations, called ‘Los Gemelos’, or the pit craters. These are two deep holes in the ground on either side of the road, formed by the collapse of the crust above a void left by magmas escaping elsewhere underneath the ground. This Scalesia forest is the habitat for several endemic land birds, like tree finches, yellow warblers and vermillion flycatchers. In the sunny and breezy afternoon, a beautiful warm yellowish light made it just perfect for taking photos. As the day ended, we returned back to our home, the National Geographic Polaris. We cannot wait for tomorrow’s new adventures.