August 4, 2018 - Galapagos Cruise: Santa Cruz Island

We had a dry landing to visit the Santa Cruz Island.  Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela. Its capital is Puerto Ayora, the most populated urban center in the islands. On Santa Cruz there are small villages, whose inhabitants work in agriculture and cattle raising. 

The first stop was the Charles Darwin Research Station which is a biological research station operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation. It is located on the shore of Academy Bay in the village of Puerto Ayora. The Charles Darwin Research Station has almost 60 years of experience conducting applied scientific research for the conservation of the Galapagos Islands. As official advisors to the Government of Ecuador, they have a long history of collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) and other local, national and international institutions.

The Galapagos Islands are currently facing many challenges including invasive species, climate change, illegal fishing, increasing population growth and tourism. In addition, there are still considerable gaps in what we know about Galapagos biodiversity, how Galapagos ecosystems function and where management interventions should be carried out. They are also researching ways to restore degraded ecosystems and recover populations of key species that are in decline. For instance, through their research, now they can control the birth rates of male or female tortoises by temperature control.  There were a lot captive tortoises ranging from babies to giant adults there.  Our guide also shared the story of the famous tortoise Lonesome George and the the hero Diego from San Diego.

After we visited Charles Darwin Research Station, we went to a private sugar cane farm.  There was an option of riding mountain bike to the farm vs riding the bus.  Several of us chose to ride mountain bike for about the later part of the 4KM.  We were warned that there are uphill rides, however, we did not know that it has more uphills than we expected.  It was hard on riding mountain bike to the sugar cane farm.  But it was fun.  

In the sugar cane farm, the owner demonstrated the way he makes moonshine.  We tried the 112 proof moonshine and it was good.  He sales $5 per bottle, and several of us bought it for souvenir. 

Then we visited a lava tunnel.  When the lava flow ceased, the molten lava inside the flow kept going, emptying out of the solidified skin and then it formed a lava tunnel.

After lunch at Manzanillo Restaurant, we visited a Primica to see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat.  

Then our guide left us in downtown of Puerto Ayora and gave us free time to either walking around the town or getting back to ship via zodiac.