Today it was again time to visit the islands that host the majority of the Galapagos’ population, Santa Cruz Island. It’s located in the center of the archipelago, and the island also is home to the offices of the Charles Darwin Research Station, and the home of the Galapagos National Park Services headquarters.
The Charles Darwin Research station helps people better understand the dynamics of the islands and their species. In here, giant tortoises can be found in captivity, offering a unique visitor experience. Dome and saddle-backed types spent years helping us show the world the wonderful species we have. The station follows a breeding program to repopulate the species that were seriously decimated after pirates and private collectors discovered this archipelago, and the good food source tortoises made.
Santa Cruz is home of hundreds of people who keep the traditions that the local settlers started here. One of these is a family in the highlands of Santa Cruz. Owners of a sugar cane mill and an organic coffee plantation, this family shows visitors how to get molasses, brown sugar, and rum out sugar cane using traditional techniques, as well as how to produce coffee without adding any chemical substances.
This island is also one of the very few places where giant tortoises can be found in the wild hanging around and keeping the vegetation in balance.
Everybody was satisfied with the different activities chosen today, and we ended the day back aboard the ship feeling very satisfied by these life-changing experiences.
