Most of the Galapagos Islands are located south of the equatorial line; however, Genovesa is north of the equatorial line. The water temperature is warmer at this latitude compared with the rest of the archipelago. The flora and fauna have very special adaptations. Genovesa has the smallest marine iguanas of the six populations found in Galapagos. It also has one of the smallest prickly pear cactus trees due to the lack of terrestrial reptiles.
3/18/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz
Our day started with a heavy rain, but that didn’t stop our visit to the most populated island. Early in the morning some of us decided to visit the Charles Darwin Breeding Center to learn about the programs that the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Foundation share for the benefit of the wildlife in the archipelago. We observed the tortoise breeding program to recover populations that were decimated in the past due to human interaction (whalers, pirates, and introduced animals) that severely harmed this species to the point of extinction. After the visit, we gathered at a nice spot for a rehydrating drink and departed to different sites to get to know how Galapagueños make their living in agriculture. One group was taken to the hydroponic farm, and other groups were driven to El Trapiche, a sugarcane plantation. Once the visit was over, we had a wonderful lunch at another ranch in the highlands and afterward we took our official walk to observe the Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Finally, back in town we had a few hours to explore and find some souvenirs to take home.