Puerto Ayora is the largest town in the Galapagos and was the starting point of our adventure today. This morning, we visited the Charles Darwin Research Station and had the chance to see research in progress to save some of the critical endangered Galapagos tortoises. The famous, extinct “Lonesome George” tortoise was on display as a stark reminder of the impact that careless humans can have on the environment. However, the research station is conducting one of the most successful reintroduction programs in the world with great success. The afternoon was spent in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island with a visit to a sustainable coffee and sugar plantation. One of the highlights of the trip was the chance to see giant Galapagos tortoises in their natural environment. There were dozens of tortoises, ranging in all sizes, including some of the largest on the island, weighing in at over 400 pounds. It is humbling to see these magnificent creatures thriving in the wild and know that the residents are doing everything to protect these Enchanted Islands.
3/27/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santiago Island
We are having fun exploring the Galapagos Islands. Today we arrived at the center of the archipelago to explore two magical visitor sites, Buccaneer Cove and Puerto Egas. Early in the morning we explored the shoreline in our Zodiacs and we saw many marine turtles mating and blue-footed boobies diving or resting on the rocks. We also saw frigates, pelicans, terns, and more. After breakfast some of our guests went kayaking for a closer encounter with nature. The snorkeling was also spectacular. We saw three different types of sharks, including a hammerhead. We found a school of eagle rays, a wide variety of multicolor reef fish, and a zebra moray. In the afternoon we explored the coastal line of Puerto Egas. This destination is full of wildlife and along our walk we saw red neck lava lizards, finches, land iguanas, mockingbirds, and hawks. At the intertidal zone we found sea lions, and many migratory birds such as plovers, whimbrels, and ruddy turnstones. We had an amazing day!