Our destination today was the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galápagos National Park Headquarters at Santa Cruz Island.
Today the National Park is celebrating another founded year since its original founding on July 4, 1959 by the government as an entity responsible for the Galápagos conservation. We all feel very proud to take part on this duty not just for our country but also for humankind.
The weather was nice for walking a bit over casted known as an inversion layer was overhead with a gentle cool breeze. On our way to the rearing center for giant tortoises, we walked through a very green area full of local vegetation like the gigantic prickly pear cactus with a trunk like a tree.
At the research station, we were able to observe the steps taken that have made this center so successful. We had the chance to be very close to the giant tortoises and their babies as well as the famous mighty Diego.
Later in the morning, we took buses into the highlands of Santa Cruz for lunch. Many other options were taken, like riding bikes, visiting a local farm where organic sugar cane crops are processed in many different products like brown sugar and the bases of rum. Here we also saw the progression of full organic coffee from the beginning to the end. We also had a choice to stop over at a local school and learn about an interesting local education system.
After a well deserved tasty meal at a local restaurant located about 900 feet, some of us continued exploring the area headed to a bus ride searching for Geochelone porteri, Santa Cruz Island’s endemic species of giant tortoise. We had a great time walking in the grass finding tortoises in the area in their natural habitat. We counted a few, a reptile over 400 pounds with a majestic shell simply staring at us. While some decided to have a cool drink and relax back to the town of Puerto Ayora.
Today’s visit was outstanding, and our expedition is about to reach its peak, we are already a big family bounded by the mystical magic called the Galápagos Islands.
