Santa Cruz Island is totally dedicated to Giant tortoises. We disembarked early in the morning to visit one of the most important conservation programs in the world: the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre in Puerto Ayora. Galapagos tortoises are part of our culture and a dominant symbol that represents all the endemic species and also the efforts and dedication of many people who show great concern about the preservation of these sacred ecosystems. This program shows every person who comes to visit the success of those people who got inspired by the magic of the islands a long time ago and also believed in their conservation dreams.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 02 Jun 2017
Santa Cruz Island, 6/2/2017, National Geographic Islander
- Aboard the National Geographic Islander
- Galápagos
Cristina Ahassi, Naturalist
Cristina was born in Quito but spent her entire childhood in the Galápagos Islands surrounded by the nature that has inspired her passion for her work.
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Relatively small and low compared to neighboring Santa Cruz, North Seymour is located to the north of Baltra. The island is dry with predominantly low shrubs, like prickly pear cacti. The incense trees are bare during the dry season. Seabirds like frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies nest on the island, and sea lions rest on the sand when they are not fishing. Land and marine iguanas also live here. Rabida is in the middle of the archipelago and has a striking red sand beach. We observed a small colony of sea lions of all ages resting or nursing. Behind the beach, American flamingos nest in a brackish lagoon. This island is full of contrasts and wildlife that we enjoyed observing during this day of expedition.