Our day began in the highlands of Santa Cruz with a visit to Los Gemelos, twin volcanic sinkholes nestled in the lush Scalesia forest. Surrounded by endemic flora such as Scalesia trees, lichens, and ferns, the walk along the rim offered remarkable views of the dramatic craters, carved naturally through millennia of volcanic activity and collapse. We also spotted several species of Darwin’s finches and mockingbirds.
Located within the island’s humid zone, we visited the Manzanillo Ranch. Here, we had an iconic encounter with giant tortoises in their natural habitat. It was humbling to observe these ancient reptiles grazing calmly among the highland grasses and wallowing in muddy pools. We visited the sugar mill where we got to taste sugarcane juice and enjoy snacks.
At the end of lunch, we had a very enjoyable moment with the EcoArte group, who encouraged us to dance to the rhythm of the charango and other Ecuadorian instruments.
In the afternoon, we descended to the coastal town of Puerto Ayora to visit the Breeding Center to see baby giant tortoises and learn a little more about conservation in the Galapagos.
