We began our day in Academy Bay on the south end of Santa Cruz Island. After our breakfast, we headed to the Giant Tortoises Breeding Center, one of the most successful conservation programs on the whole planet. There we learned how Galápagos National Park rangers succeeded in the laborious mission of breeding tortoises in captivity, simulating the same conditions they find in the wild. We learned about two world-famous tortoises: Lonesome George (the last of the Pinta Island species who passed away last year) and Super Diego (the successful breeder from Espanola Island). The weather was not too warm, making the visit very enjoyable.
Later on, we continued our journey to the highlands of Santa Cruz. We stopped at a locally owned sugar mill, where we learned how sugarcane is processed into several very tasty products such as raw sugar and sugarcane liquor. We also learned about the production of local organic coffee. After this very instructive stop, we continued higher into the highlands to visit Miguel Angel Arias Farm, which is located in the migrating path of giant tortoises. We walked through an impressive lava tunnel that ended right next to the farm’s restaurant, where we enjoyed a succulent lunch surrounded by beautiful gardens.
In the afternoon, we visited the Galápagos Crossing farm, a great place to find tortoises. Giant tortoises are the largest reptiles living in these vast green lands where food is abundant. This is the reason why this farm was turned into a preserve for these great herbivores. Some tortoise may live for 180 years and weigh up to 500 pounds. Males are larger. Females are smaller and some have shiny carapaces that are recognizable at a distance. The day was overcast, a typical condition during the garua (drizzle) season. We also had the chance to visit a very interesting volcanic formation known as lava tubes, created during the formation of the islands. At the end of the afternoon, some guests headed back to the National Geographic Islander while others spent time in Puerto Ayora for a last round of shopping. We had a great day on Santa Cruz Island.
