Santa Cruz Island
Today we woke up in Academy Bay on Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. As we woke up, we saw a nice sunrise and had breakfast before going to visit the Charles Darwin Center.
There we all saw the tortoises being bred in captivity – necessary for their survival since their numbers had been depleted by introduced species. We also saw Lonesome George, the famous bachelor and last remaining individual tortoise from Pinta Island. We continued our visit and met the tortoise Diego and his mates from the island of Española. This research center is so interesting because you can observe the coastal area with its unique types of vegetation, such as the giant prickly pear cactus and candelabra cactus.
After the research center, we boarded the buses and drove to the highlands, where we had the chance to walk through a lava tunnel. Once inside, we found small stalactites, stalagmites. After we walked out of the tube, it was a short stroll down a path that ended in a restaurant where we had a wonderful lunch.
Once we were done with lunch, we went to find the Santa Cruz land tortoises in the wild, as well as sinkholes and Scalesia (giant daisies).
The afternoon was a bit chilly and foggy. We went back to town and then to the boat. Jason, the Expedition Leader, briefed guests about tomorrow’s activities, and then we had dinner followed by a great lecture about Darwin by Harvard Professor Mr. Jim Costa.
By tomorrow we will be all the way on the western side of the archipelago.
