Santa Cruz & North Seymour Islands
Our expedition took us this morning back to the center of the archipelago. It is here where most of the people migrated from the mainland back in the early 1930s. A successful establishment in those dates of a small community transformed into what it is nowadays, the largest and most important city in the Galápagos, Pto Ayora. This city was our gateway to the highlands of Santa Cruz, and to the areas where the ancient prehistoric-looking reptiles (known as Giant tortoises) inhabit.
After a successful hike into the forest, where more than half a dozen gigantic tortoises (at least five hundred pounds each) were found, we headed to the city mentioned before. The rest of the morning was spent shopping and people watching as well as strolling along the main road of Puerto Ayora town, known as T-shirt city of South America!
Fully loaded with shopping bags, we started our navigation towards our next destination, North Seymour Island. This little, remote island within the center of the archipelago, provided us with the most unique view of colonies of sea birds. It was hard to choose a subject to photograph, since everything popped right up in front of our eyes at the same time. Blue footed boobies were among the favorites, until we reached the area where the frigate birds, with their peculiar red pouch, took all the attention!
It was a great time to see how the sea birds paired up for the season and hopefully started a successful nesting.
It was a day for us all to enjoy since as soon as we returned to the ship, the option of jumping of the top decks of the Islander sounded like the perfect idea!
Our expedition took us this morning back to the center of the archipelago. It is here where most of the people migrated from the mainland back in the early 1930s. A successful establishment in those dates of a small community transformed into what it is nowadays, the largest and most important city in the Galápagos, Pto Ayora. This city was our gateway to the highlands of Santa Cruz, and to the areas where the ancient prehistoric-looking reptiles (known as Giant tortoises) inhabit.
After a successful hike into the forest, where more than half a dozen gigantic tortoises (at least five hundred pounds each) were found, we headed to the city mentioned before. The rest of the morning was spent shopping and people watching as well as strolling along the main road of Puerto Ayora town, known as T-shirt city of South America!
Fully loaded with shopping bags, we started our navigation towards our next destination, North Seymour Island. This little, remote island within the center of the archipelago, provided us with the most unique view of colonies of sea birds. It was hard to choose a subject to photograph, since everything popped right up in front of our eyes at the same time. Blue footed boobies were among the favorites, until we reached the area where the frigate birds, with their peculiar red pouch, took all the attention!
It was a great time to see how the sea birds paired up for the season and hopefully started a successful nesting.
It was a day for us all to enjoy since as soon as we returned to the ship, the option of jumping of the top decks of the Islander sounded like the perfect idea!
