Galapagos Islands 2012: Part 8

A wild Galápagos Giant Tortoise and Smooth-billed Ani in the Santa Cruz highlands.

A Green Turtle greeted us for breakfast this morning before we took the dinghies to Santa Cruz and the Charles Darwin Research Station. We learned about the issues the islands are constantly facing with invasive species before getting to view the Darwin Station’s Giant Tortoises. We watched the various species of tortoises and iguanas while learning about the breeding programs at the Station.

We viewed the enclosure of the recently deceased Lonesome George [see our post from June 2012] and met Diego the tortoise as well as inquisitive Galápagos Mockingbirds and busy Common Cactus-Finches.

After leaving the Center we went into Puerto Ayora for shopping and lunch, which was unfortunately more of a hassle than we anticipated due to kitchen problems and a wasted hour in the first restaurant we tried.

Galápagos Giant Tortoise feeding in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz.

A pair of Galápagos Giant Tortoises wallow in the highland mud.

Giant Galápagos Tortoise in the pond

After we finally got food we caught a bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz where the Giant Tortoises roam free in the ranch lands. We caught views of Smooth-billed Anis, White-cheeked Pintails and Common Gallinules, but the main attraction was the seemingly-prehistoric, domed tortoises along the muddy trails.

Before we made it back to the boat we walked a few hundred yards into a massive lava tunnel.

That evening we made our way to Rabida.