Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the archipelago but the most populated one. Our visit today was a mixture of wildlife and local culture.
After breakfast we visited the giant tortoise breeding center run by the Galapagos National Park Service. Situated at the eastern end of Academy Bay, this area is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. At the breeding center, we saw several endemic species of giant tortoises with different carapace shapes. It was quite special to be able to compare them. We also learned about the breeding of these iconic animals and all the stages they must go through before they are returned to the wild. The little hatchlings were the highlight of our visit!
Later in the morning, our guests explored Puerto Ayora, the largest town in Galápagos and the center of the tourism industry. At first, it felt a little strange to be back in civilization after visiting remote and uninhabited islands, but our guests enjoyed the chance to shop or simply sit in a café and observe how the Galapagueños live.
Before lunch some of our guests visited a typical local school, while others went mountain biking in the highlands, or stopped by a sugar cane mill. These activities allowed them to be a part of the Galapagos community and made them feel like islanders.
After a wonderful lunch, we went to the highlands to search for the endemic Santa Cruz giant tortoise. Following tracks imprinted on the grass, our search was very successful. We saw many tortoises in their natural state surrounded by transitional zone plants. Shortly afterwards, our buses stopped at the entrance of a lava tunnel where we explored the inside of this geological formation.
