Guests spent the day exploring the island of Santa Cruz. One of four inhabited islands in the Galapagos, Santa Cruz has the largest human population and is considered the economic hub of the province. We spent the morning at a beautiful ranch in the highlands looking for Santa Cruz giant tortoises. We walked the trails, spotting giant tortoises and learning about the behavioral ecology of these magnificent creatures. We spent quite some time taking photos. After a delicious lunch, we visited the giant tortoise breeding center at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we had the opportunity to learn about important efforts to protect species of giant tortoises from extinction. We ended the day with a great visit by some local artists who came on board to share the wonderful creations they make, which are inspired by these islands.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 30 Jan 2023
Santa Cruz Island, 1/30/2023, National Geographic Islander II
- Aboard the National Geographic Islander II
- Galápagos
Felix Reyes, Videographer
Felix is from Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos archipelago. Since he was a little kid, he accompanied his father on daily expeditions, the mission; their guest fell in love with their Islands and ship. As a child swimming, he was living proof that ...
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