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Santa Cruz II Galapagos Expedition
It’s impossible to ignore these islands’ uniqueness when first arriving at Genovesa Island. There aren’t many locations on Earth with such unique fauna, but what makes the islands most distinctive is the chance to get up close and personal with it all—an opportunity that comes only on a Galapagos cruise!
After arriving, we immediately travel up to Darwin Bay, which is home to hundreds of red-footed boobies that live in the island’s crimson mangroves. Every limb appears to have a pair of birds making their nest, and the birds’ din can be overpowering. These islands are very vibrant!
Suddenly, two birds can be seen flying at us in the sky. All it takes to see how well the two species coexist is to sight boobies and frigates together in the sky. The two birds live together, although occasionally the boobies become afraid of the frigates because of their pirate-like behavior. You can only witness these exceptional and remarkable encounters in the Galapagos.
We paid a unique visit to the varied island of Santa Cruz as we began a new year. Here, the first rainfall 2017 greeted us on our highland Galapagos adventure. Rainfall is abundant during the hot season, nourishing the earth and providing sustenance for some significant land creatures, such as the gigantic tortoises of the Galapagos. During this period, flora also thrives, offering plenty of food for birds and land reptiles, who all rely on the fresh vegetation growth from the tropical rains.
We discovered an astounding quantity of tortoises in the misty mountains of Santa Cruz: they had emerged to take a bath in the first raindrops. Galapagos giant tortoises were everywhere, soaking in the muddy ponds across their habitat at this time of year, drinking from puddles, and sunning themselves in the damp grass. Seeing these enormous reptiles having fun was terrific!
Some Facts about the Galapagos Giant Tortoises
As you may have guessed, the largest tortoise species that is still extant is the Galapagos giant tortoise. Being the giant herbivores on the islands, their function as top grazers is essential to their environment. Despite having a similar appearance on the outside, each island’s shell is unique. They have a sluggish growth rate, allowing them to survive well over a century.
Sadly, overhunting had drastically decreased the number of island explorers when they first discovered the archipelago. The Charles Darwin Research Station and other public and private groups are currently working to aid in the species’ recovery. The two most extensive breeding facilities are in Puerto Ayora and Cerro Colorado, both in San Cristobal. Year-round tourism is offered at both locations.
