Today was a very early day, by the time we were up and standing outside the hotel waiting for our safari bus to take us to the port, you could still see the stars. This was the first time since we got to the Galapagos that I have been able to see the stars. It was a beautiful morning, we boarded the safari bus and headed towards the port in which we would get on the same boat that took us to Isabella, back to Santa Cruz. I was able to get the prime time back of the boat seating again, expect this time there were more people other than our group on the boat and it made for a tight squeeze when it came to the seating. Seeing the sunrise was so beautiful the sky was various colors and the water was so calm it was tranquil. The boat ride was another great one that I did not sleep at all on meanwhile john was snoring away as usual and just about everyone else got a nice little nap. But it was ok I was glad to take in the amazing sights of the island from the boat. Departing from Isabella was so bitter sweet in that I found the island to be so compelling and more in touch with nature and conservation than Santa Cruz is however I was so excited to continue our journey throughout not only the Galapagos but the rest of the country of Ecuador.
Once we were back in Santa Cruz we walked from the hotel to the famous white sand beach of Tortuga Bay the walk was long and very very hot. On the way we passed the renewable energy HQ for the whole Galapagos islands, the people that work in this office are in charge of the operation being carried out in efforts to make the Islands as green as possible. The building was funded by the Korean government. Side note, later on in the day we discussed how much foreign influence plays a role in things getting done in the Galapagos. The Ecuadorian government won’t do it so it is up for grabs for other countries to play a role. Our trip to Tortuga bay was nothing more than a relaxing beach trip, there were no official plans we had the time to do whatever we wanted there. Coming off our snorkeling high I followed through and payed 5 dollars to rent snorkels and use them there, John and Jacalyn did as well. We got to the water and put everything on and tried to swim and we legit could not see anything the water was so cloudy due to the sand water. We were really hoping to see the reef sharks that we saw the other day around the mangroves on the sides of the bay. We walked over to the area where they would be anyway to see if maybe we could see them if we were somewhat close. But nope we were wrong, still couldn’t see anything, the best view was to be standing out of the water looking. Then we saw the sharks they were swimming all around us!! They got pretty close, it was kind of nerve wracking but thank god I still have both my legs. Once our time at Tortuga bay ended we got on a boat to take us back to the hotel area instead of the long hot walk.
We got back and had time to shower and change before we went over to the Charles Darwin Research Center. This was a facility that was founded by the Belgian Government and was made to bring together scientist from all over the world to conduct research among the islands to gain a better understand of the ecosystem and various ways in which the island can maximize efficiency of management to put the environment and the pristine ecosystem first. The biggest project that was available for the public to see was the Turtle breeding center, this is the second one that we visited and my opinion about them did not change, in theory it’s good but I feel like it poses too many issues.
We then saw lonesome George! He was preserved in a low light room in which we had to stand in a climate-controlled room for two and a half minutes before we entered to see him. It was crazy seeing a tortoise that lived for as long as he did its like looking straight into the past.
We then were able to walk around the museum part of the research center sand buy souvenirs that benefited the research in some way. We had the rest of the night to ourselves as it was our last night in the islands! It was a great start to the trip, but I was still so excited to venture through the Andes and be at such extreme elevations. This was just the beginning…
Once we were back in Santa Cruz we walked from the hotel to the famous white sand beach of Tortuga Bay the walk was long and very very hot. On the way we passed the renewable energy HQ for the whole Galapagos islands, the people that work in this office are in charge of the operation being carried out in efforts to make the Islands as green as possible. The building was funded by the Korean government. Side note, later on in the day we discussed how much foreign influence plays a role in things getting done in the Galapagos. The Ecuadorian government won’t do it so it is up for grabs for other countries to play a role. Our trip to Tortuga bay was nothing more than a relaxing beach trip, there were no official plans we had the time to do whatever we wanted there. Coming off our snorkeling high I followed through and payed 5 dollars to rent snorkels and use them there, John and Jacalyn did as well. We got to the water and put everything on and tried to swim and we legit could not see anything the water was so cloudy due to the sand water. We were really hoping to see the reef sharks that we saw the other day around the mangroves on the sides of the bay. We walked over to the area where they would be anyway to see if maybe we could see them if we were somewhat close. But nope we were wrong, still couldn’t see anything, the best view was to be standing out of the water looking. Then we saw the sharks they were swimming all around us!! They got pretty close, it was kind of nerve wracking but thank god I still have both my legs. Once our time at Tortuga bay ended we got on a boat to take us back to the hotel area instead of the long hot walk.
We got back and had time to shower and change before we went over to the Charles Darwin Research Center. This was a facility that was founded by the Belgian Government and was made to bring together scientist from all over the world to conduct research among the islands to gain a better understand of the ecosystem and various ways in which the island can maximize efficiency of management to put the environment and the pristine ecosystem first. The biggest project that was available for the public to see was the Turtle breeding center, this is the second one that we visited and my opinion about them did not change, in theory it’s good but I feel like it poses too many issues.
We then saw lonesome George! He was preserved in a low light room in which we had to stand in a climate-controlled room for two and a half minutes before we entered to see him. It was crazy seeing a tortoise that lived for as long as he did its like looking straight into the past.
We then were able to walk around the museum part of the research center sand buy souvenirs that benefited the research in some way. We had the rest of the night to ourselves as it was our last night in the islands! It was a great start to the trip, but I was still so excited to venture through the Andes and be at such extreme elevations. This was just the beginning…