Santa Cruz Island
We have left the western realm of the Galápagos behind to come back to civilization. However in this case, being back to civilization means getting submerged in amazing and successful conservation programs, and it means having contact with people who have grown up, in the most part, in one of the most pristine places in the world, therefore people with a unique vision about life and sustainable management.
Puerto Ayora is a colorful town settled in a turquoise and breathtaking bay, Academy Bay. There are lots of business here, but still, there is an informal atmosphere, everyone looks relaxed and at ease.
We visited first the Charles Darwin Research Station with its many babies, both tortoise and iguana, which someday soon will be repatriated to their home islands. In the afternoon we found more tortoises, but this time in the wild, freely moving through grasses and ferns, enjoying the lush vegetation of the highlands. Tree finches, warbler finches and the famous vermillion flycatcher showed up for the delight of our bird fans, and for the botanists we presented new species of plants along the way, such as the giant Scalesia.
A good day has to have good music somehow, and after dinner tonight we had the visit of musicians from Puerto Ayora who presented a fantastic show to expose us to the culture of these islands, and of Ecuador, a country rich in diversity and traditions.
We have left the western realm of the Galápagos behind to come back to civilization. However in this case, being back to civilization means getting submerged in amazing and successful conservation programs, and it means having contact with people who have grown up, in the most part, in one of the most pristine places in the world, therefore people with a unique vision about life and sustainable management.
Puerto Ayora is a colorful town settled in a turquoise and breathtaking bay, Academy Bay. There are lots of business here, but still, there is an informal atmosphere, everyone looks relaxed and at ease.
We visited first the Charles Darwin Research Station with its many babies, both tortoise and iguana, which someday soon will be repatriated to their home islands. In the afternoon we found more tortoises, but this time in the wild, freely moving through grasses and ferns, enjoying the lush vegetation of the highlands. Tree finches, warbler finches and the famous vermillion flycatcher showed up for the delight of our bird fans, and for the botanists we presented new species of plants along the way, such as the giant Scalesia.
A good day has to have good music somehow, and after dinner tonight we had the visit of musicians from Puerto Ayora who presented a fantastic show to expose us to the culture of these islands, and of Ecuador, a country rich in diversity and traditions.
