Day 5
We started our day with a hiked to the Sierra Negra Volcano caldera (crater). The volcano has largest basaltic caldera in the Galapagos and is approximately nine by ten kilometers. It was active as recently as 2005 and we learned there was activity just after we left.
In the afternoon we visited the wetlands breeding center at Puerto Villamil. We had a little free time after our tour in the center of the city. Our guide, Fabricio, was a local and suggested we taste the avocado ice cream (interesting but not something we would order regularly).
Day 6
We visited the most populated island, Santa Cruz. There are approximately 25,000 residents. In the morning we took a bus to the highlands to a see giant tortoises and walked through a lava tube on the el Chato Ranch.
From there, we visited the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about their work. We also saw lonesome George and the notorious Diego (father to more than 800 turtles).
After lunch on the ship, we returned to town and rented bikes. Our adventure to Tortuga Bay was an unexpected highlight of our time in the Galapagos. We biked to the park entrance and then walked about thirty minutes to white sandy shores. The water of the first bay was too dangerous for swimming but the second bay was protected and very calm. We swam for short time to cool down before heading back into town.
Day 7
Our last full day on the ship started on the South Plaza Island for a walk along the steep cliffs formed by lava that are now covered with Opuntia cacti and many sea lions and iguanas.
We went for our last snorkel. The water was clear and a little colder than previous times in the water.
After lunch we navigated to Santa Fe Island for a hike along the northeast coast. We started on a small beach and saw more birds, iguanas and cactus . As we ended our hike, we came across a group of hawks eating a baby sea lion. It was both grotesque and extraordinary.
Day 8
On our final morning, we stopped at Lobos Island for a hike on its rocking shores.
Then we navigated to our final stop on San Cristobal Island and flew back to Guayaquil.
