Puerto Ayora

We have breakfast and then us and our luggage are taken ashore at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. We dropped our bags at the Hotel Solymar.

We are scheduled to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Founded in 1959 at the centennial celebration of the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species, the research station has an international team of scientists that studies the biology and conservation of the Galápagos Islands. The station conducts captive breeding program of giant tortoises, and we should see the hatchlings of several subspecies that have been brought back from near-extinction.

A quick tour around the Hotel and its surrounds.

But  we had a change in itinerary. We were taken to the highlands to see Giant Tortoise in the wild. This time the landscape was lush and green (not dry and dusty), there was steady rain and the Giant Tortoises were wallowing in mud. The mud helps them get rid of parasites.

Santa Cruz Highlands

The Doc is not exactly sure of the name (he knows the location) but it was most probably at the Rancho Primicias Farm, Santa Cruz Highlands. The biggest adult male tortoise can weigh up to 400kgs. The males here are over 200kgs.

After a couple of hours it was time to go and the Sea Trip was officially over. We were dropped off at the Hotel Solymar on Charles Darwin Avenue, the Sea Trip is now officially over.

Tomorrow is a rest day and the following day the Land Trip starts. The next day was a lazy day around the Hotel, backing up photos, writing up reports and taken the odd shot. We said goodbye to part of the group. Some started the long trip back to Australia, others onto to more time in Ecuador. About half stayed on for the Galápagos Land Trip.