At the center of the Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela. It is also the commercial capital and home to the province’s largest human settlement at around 20,000. The National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation headquarters operate here with the task of protecting wildlife through science and patrol. The island’s highlands are highly productive, especially for agriculture and farming. Here we find the Galapagos giant tortoises, icons of the archipelago, in their natural state. Puerto Ayora is a large town where we can observe how people live in harmony with nature and carry out commerce under the umbrella of tourism.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 06 Nov 2023
Santa Cruz Island, 11/6/2023, National Geographic Islander II
- Aboard the National Geographic Islander II
- Galápagos
Patricio Maldonado, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Patricio, better known as Pato amongst his friends, was born in the Galápagos Islands. His family moved to the islands from the mainland and settled on the island of Santa Cruz over thirty-five years ago. Pato had an enchanted childhood in the island...
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