Today we traveled by bus from the Itabaca Channel to El Chato II, a farm where we could observe the land tortoises of Santa Cruz Island roaming free in their natural habitat. We learned about the ecology of this healthy tortoise population of approximately 8000 individuals. Afterwards, we traveled for 25 minutes along the humid zone, to visit El Trapiche Ecológico to observe the production of local coffee, chocolate and liqueur. Then we went to el Aquelarre, a beautiful restaurant, for lunch.
In the afternoon we traveled to Puerto Ayora, the tourist capital of the Galapagos with the largest human population. Right from the start we could feel the hot season and conditions typical of this island. We visited the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station, both founded in 1959. The Charles Darwin Research Station provides critical advice to guide the management and conservation strategies implemented by the Galapagos National Park.
At the Galapagos National Park we visited the tortoise path, an exhibit that highlights critical issues such as the control and eradication of invasive species and the conservation efforts to restore critical populations of giant tortoises and finches.
