 |
||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||
| Go back / Santa Cruz island | ||||||||
|
SANTA CRUZ
|
||||||||
| (Back
to destinations) Charles Darwin Research Station |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
| The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts research for Galapagos conservation, focusing in two major areas. One is management of invasive species and how to restore the native biodiversity and ecosystems. The other, overexploitation of marine resources. The station lays in Puerto Ayora. | ||||||||
| (Back
to destinations) Galapagos Tortoise Reserve |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| Ubicated in the highlands of Santa Cruz, the Reserve is made up of tortoises that weight 200 pounds and are as wild as they can get, so be careful. Because the reserve is not inside a regulated section of the park, you can go there without a guide. Hiking from Puerto Ayora to the Reserve takes about two hours through dense and low growing vegetation. To return you can rent a horse. Depending on the time you vsit the highlands, you can watch red, orange and yellow little birds playing with the blooming flora, and harvest and eat tropical fruits. | ||||||||
| (Back
to destinations) Gemelos (pair of craters) |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| The Gemelos (twins) are a pair of craters approximately 30 meters deep ubicated on either side of the road to Baltra (island where the airport lies). The holes could be created because of a volcanic explosion or because of magma chambers inside earth. The sorrounding forrest is full of birds such as the vermilion flycatcher or the yellow warbler. | ||||||||
| (Back
to destinations) Lava Tunnels |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| When lava flows the outer part of the stream gets cold and hardens, but the liquid magma within continues flowing. When it ceased empty tubes are left behind. This is what happened in Santa Cruz several times, leaving an island full of lava tunnels. The most frequently visited is the "Tunnel of Endless Love", named so because of the heart shapped hole in the roof of it. The tunnel is 800 meters long. Other tunnels can be visited out of town following the Cascajo street for one km, where a large sign announces them. | ||||||||
| (Back
to destinations) Lonesome George |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| George is the name of the last member of a dying race, he is the last Pinta Tortoise (Geochetone elephantopus abingdoni) on earth. Pinta Tortoises are large and can surivive long periods of time without food and water, a fact that made them tempting for pirates and whalers used to sail during months. George lives in the Charles Darwin Research Station. | ||||||||
| (Back
to destinations) Tortuga Bay |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| The white sand beach is considered by many the nicest of the archipelago. It name comes from the sea turtles that go there to lay their eggs. Other species can be found, including pelicans, flamingos and marine iguanas. Tortuga Bay is located outside Puerto Ayora, approximately 2.5 km away. The path is good for birdwatching. | ||||||||
| (Back
to destinations) Caleta Tortuga Negra |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| Caleta Tortuga Negra is a beautiful beach ubicated in the northwest side of Santa Cruz. Visitors may float on motorboats or kayaks trough silent mangrove inlets. You will meet Galapagos green sea turtles. Almost every stay on boat tour takes you there. | ||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
For detailed info write us to: info@Go2Galapagos.com
|
||||||||
|
Feedback to: webmaster@Go2Galapagos.com
|
||||||||