Santa Cruz Island, Charles Darwin Research Station & the Highlands
Early in the morning we woke up, readying ourselves for a post-breakfast outing and a dry landing on the pier of Puerto Ayora (the largest of the Galápagos towns), also known as the main port on Santa Cruz Island. After a five-minute bus ride, we got to the area where the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) is found. After walking for about 15 minutes, we arrived to the area where the tortoise corrals are, where we learned about the desires of the CDRS and projects about conservation and how to increase the population of the endemic species in danger of extinction due to the introduction of alien species.
Some of the ones responsible for the success of certain projects in the station were also found, such as: Super Diego (male tortoise who helped restore the population of Hood Island), some samples of the Galápagos land iguana, species of tortoises from various islands, and our ever hopeless character: Lonesome George (the last male tortoise of his kind).
After leaving the best advisor of the National Park (the Charles Darwin Research Station) behind, we enjoyed some free time around town. The fishermen’s dock was amazing. We even found some great blue herons, sea lions, and pelicans just around the area.
For the afternoon expedition we got to explore the highlands of Santa Cruz, right up high in the humid zone of the island. It was exciting to know that we had the chance to walk all the way through a lava tube, and just going in there was even more spectacular. The fact that we were in that stone cathedral-shaped place, all quiet with just the sound of dripping water from the roof to the floor, with a very cool temperature, and learning about geology, wow… what a great Classroom! It is something that will stay in our minds forever.
After lunch we explored the grasslands and the inner part of the humid zone, looking for some giant tortoises in the wild. We happened to find some of them grazing off the green areas and some others just resting or cooling off. Some rainwater ponds were common in the area as this is the rainy season in the enchanted archipelago. Right in these ponds we encountered a few white cheeked pintail ducks. Within the group there was a female with some ducklings. Just a sign of how productive the rainy season can be for some species.
Later on, some of our explorers also visited the Pit Craters, an area where the magma chamber had collapsed. Surrounded by mostly endemic and native vegetation, this area holds one of the common habitats for the woodpecker finch, tree finches, some species of wild orchids, endemic passifloras, and even the giant endemic daisy (Scalesia Genera).
After an amazing day, full of knowledge and the smell of nature, we headed back to the National Geographic Islander, expecting more wonders to come as the week goes on.
