MONDAY, JULY 11, 2022
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND - PUERTO AYORA
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Disembark for our visit to the Charles Darwin Station
Bring all you need for the whole day
11:00 AM Cycling
Sign up on the list
11:30 AM Visit to the sugarcane mill
12:30 PM Lunch at the local farm, Manzanillo
2:00 PM Observe giant tortoises in the wild
2:00 PM Transfer to Garrapatero beach (kayak or relax on the beach)
Bring waterclothes and towel. Sign up on the list
6:00 PM Back on-board
7:00 PM ECO moment + Expedition plan
7:30 PM Dinner
EXPEDITION INFORMATION
SUNRISE: 6:05 AM
SUNSET: 6:07 PM
LOW TIDE: 6:34 PM
HIGH TIDE: 12:50 AM
After breakfast this morning we landed at Puerto Ayora where we were bused to the Charles Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. This is where they conduct research on the giant tortoise and is a breeding center.
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| A Bust of Charles Darwin at the entrance |
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| This is the administrative headquarters of the Galapagos National park |
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| Sign for the Center |
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| Museum and Gift Shop |
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| A Giant Tortoise having a meal |
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| Baby Tortoises |
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| A Marine Iguana |
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| Marine Iguanas sunning themselves |
Following the visit to the Research Station we visited a sugarcane mill. We were given a choice to ride bicycles there or take the bus. Since it was raining lightly I opted to take the bus. We were given demonstrations on how they extract the juice from the sugar cane, then processed to make alcohol.
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| Riding Bikes to the Sugarcane Mill |
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| Extracting sugar cane juice, the old-fashioned way |
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| Distiller, boiling the fermented juice and turning into alcohol |
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| The finished product |
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| Bottled and Sold |
Following the demonstration we were treated to an excellent buffet lunch.
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| Map Showing our Location |
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| Name of Ranch where we had lunch and see giant tortoises |
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| A Beautiful Lunch |
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| My Cuban Family |
After lunch we were taken to a field where there are many giant tortoises roaming around.
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| A Close-up Shot |
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| Posting with a giant tortoise |
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| A Pool Party |
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| Taking a stroll down the road |
Before we boarded the zodiac boats to go back to the ship, we were given about an hour to roam the town of Puerto Ayora. This is a fairly good-size town which serves a lot of tourists. There are many business that offer services to tourists, like guided tours or ferry services to the other islands. Some of us took the opportunity to buy some local souvenirs.
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| Our Location on the Map |
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| One of the main streets |
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| Looking down the main street where the shops are |
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| Map of Puerto Ayora |
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| At the Waterfront |
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| Church |
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| Going back to the ship |
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