Day 5 Santa Cruz Island

Tuesday April 2nd

Charles Darwin Research Station and El Trapiche, Santa Cruz

Schedule for the day:

6:00 Wake up call

7:00-7:45 Breakfast

7:45 disembark  and visit to Charles Darwin Institute-turtles, lonesome george

10:45-11:15 Visit to local sugar can mill

12:45-1:45 lunch at a local restaurant in rain forest

2:00-3:30 Visit to National Park for closer viewing of the giant tortoises.

3:00-5:00 shopping in town

6:45 Briefing on next day's activities

7:30 dinner and local musicians and dancers

Today we disembarked at Puerto Ayora which is home to some 18,000 inhabitants and is the economic hub of this area.  We started the day with a visit to the Charles Darwin Institute.  This is where scientists gather information for the conservation of the islands animals.  They conduct research and and help to maintain the livelihood of the giant Galapagos Tortoise.  This also was the home of "Lonesome George", the last of the Pinzon Island tortoises before the extinction of his species last year.  

After the Darwin Institute we visited a  sugar cane farm and saw production of sugar cane, sugar cane alcohol and coffee.  We then got to sample it.  Que rico!

Old method for producing sugar can syrup (press)

We were then transported to a local restaurant in the rain forest for a tasty lunch.

Our next adventure included a visit to the property of a native Galapagueno where we were required to wear tall rubber boots so that we could manever well in the muddy terrain.  This was only about a half mile walk but the terrain was uneven, rocky and muddy.  This area was the central location of the annual migratory route of these giant tortoises.

Galapagos Turtle (Tortuga)

Turtle in road (needed moving my naturalist)

Following this visit, we had a little time to do some light shopping in town.  We picked up a tshirt for Morgan, an animal guide and map for me and my mom purchased 2 hand carved wooden bowls with tortoises made of cedar (one for me:).
We also stopped by a local fish market and were amazed at how they fed the sea lions and pelicans as if they were pets.

We headed back to the ship by 5:00 and showered and made a phone call home.

Recap of day and explanation of Wednesday's events

After dinner there was an amazing folkloric dance presentation by an Andean group.  The last song of the evening was a salsa and one of the guides named Enrique asked me to dance.  Que divertido!