Santa Cruz Island
Today was a beautiful day, and we saw one of the most famous and emblematic animals in the Galápagos. The day greeted us at anchor in Academy Bay, outside the town of Puerto Ayora on the Island of Santa Cruz. This sunny day on this fantastic island has been a day of learning, as we travel to the Charles Darwin Research Center to learn about the many different programs to help the unique animals on this enchanted archipelago. Among their many efforts is a tortoise rearing center where we can observe the different stages in a giant tortoises’ life, including the inherently adorable yearlings.
After enjoying a delicious lunch at Altair, a local restaurant in the highlands of Santa Cruz, we went to view the magnificent tortoises in the wild. Seeing an animal in captivity is one thing, but being able to observe an animal in its natural habitat is, for lack of a better word, wild!
The shallow pools of fluorescent green water were favorite resting spots. We received a special treat, as did our reptilian friend, when we saw a large male feasting on several passion fruits that lay on the ground near our path. The yellow fruits stood no chance against the tortoise’s powerful jaws, occasionally spurting its juice in every direction. Most of our cameras also feasted on this sight.
The largest city in the Galápagos, Puerto Ayora, hosted the rest of our afternoon. We enjoyed shopping, some local cuisine, and a relaxing evening aboard the Polaris, topped off by entertainment from local musicians.
Today was a beautiful day, and we saw one of the most famous and emblematic animals in the Galápagos. The day greeted us at anchor in Academy Bay, outside the town of Puerto Ayora on the Island of Santa Cruz. This sunny day on this fantastic island has been a day of learning, as we travel to the Charles Darwin Research Center to learn about the many different programs to help the unique animals on this enchanted archipelago. Among their many efforts is a tortoise rearing center where we can observe the different stages in a giant tortoises’ life, including the inherently adorable yearlings.
After enjoying a delicious lunch at Altair, a local restaurant in the highlands of Santa Cruz, we went to view the magnificent tortoises in the wild. Seeing an animal in captivity is one thing, but being able to observe an animal in its natural habitat is, for lack of a better word, wild!
The shallow pools of fluorescent green water were favorite resting spots. We received a special treat, as did our reptilian friend, when we saw a large male feasting on several passion fruits that lay on the ground near our path. The yellow fruits stood no chance against the tortoise’s powerful jaws, occasionally spurting its juice in every direction. Most of our cameras also feasted on this sight.
The largest city in the Galápagos, Puerto Ayora, hosted the rest of our afternoon. We enjoyed shopping, some local cuisine, and a relaxing evening aboard the Polaris, topped off by entertainment from local musicians.
