In the morning we went for a nice walk exploring and learning about the natural history of plants on our way to visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. During this visit we had the opportunity to learn about the different kinds of conservation work carried out by this institution in the field of biological research.
Here, the main attractions are the Galápagos giant tortoises. These large gentle reptiles have made a great come back since conservation work started. Some of them are babies, born here at the breeding center as part of the restoration programs carried out by the Galapagos National Park Service. Eventually, once these little creatures turn 5, they will be repatriated to their home islands of Santiago, Pinzon and Española.
After visiting the Darwin research station we took a bus ride to the cool misty highlands of Santa Cruz for lunch and more exploration. Here, we had the opportunity to walk through a lava tube. This is a typical type of formation due to the volcanic origin of this archipelago.
This region is green throughout the year and we explored the lush forests, which is a combination of endemic plants such as the iconic scalesia (also known as a daisy tree) and local fruit trees. The forests and grasslands are home to a number of species endemic to the archipelago, such as several types of Darwin finches, mockingbirds, pintail ducks, and giant tortoises wallowing in mud ponds. The whole landscape is dotted with these giant reptiles. You can see them slowly grazing everywhere!
