Santa Cruz Island

Today we anchored in Academy Bay, named for an expedition made here by California’s Academy of Science in the early 1900’s.

After a succulent breakfast, we returned to civilization. We disembarked at a dock belonging to the Galápagos National Park and walked through the interesting littoral zone to the Giant Tortoises Breeding Center.

Some of our guests were surprised to find out that tortoises are increasing in numbers through the breeding program, and that the national park is making efforts to protect this emblematic creature – a symbol of the islands and their namesake.

After visiting several corrals, we learned to recognize the different shell shapes such as the dome, saddle and intermediate styles, which are adaptations made by tortoises to the different environments of the Galápagos Islands.

After this visit, the guests had some time off for shopping. Later on we went to the highlands to visit a lava tunnel and see tortoises in the wild; we counted four of them. It was different to see them walking and feeding freely on such a beautiful green area surrounded by grass and tall trees. Everyone enjoyed the presence of these peaceful animals.

Then we moved to the Scalesia forest located about 1,800 feet above the sea level, a different and unique vegetation zone. An area where we found Galápagos orchids and several species of ferns, mosses, lichens and many other plants and species of Darwin finches. We continued our hike through an incredible landscape where we found these impressive depressions, the Pit craters or the “Twins”.

What a great way to say goodbye to Santa Cruz before continuing our journey through these Enchanted Islands.