Sights in The Galápagos Islands
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Charles Darwin Research Station
About a 20-minute walk by road northeast of Puerto Ayora, the Charles Darwin Research Station can also be reached by dry landing from Academy Bay. More than 200 scientists and volunteers are involved with research and conservation efforts, the most well known of which involves a captive breeding program for giant tortoises. It contains a national-park information center; an informative museum where a video in English or Spanish is presented several times a day; a baby-tortoise house with incubators (when they weigh about 1.5kg or are about four years old, the tortoises are repatriated to their home islands) and a walk-in adult tortoise enclosure, where you can meet the…
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Lava Tubes
From the village of Bellavista, 7km north of Puerto Ayora by road, one can turn east on a road leading about 2km to the lava tubes. These underground tunnels are more than a kilometer in length and were formed by the solidifying of the outside skin of a molten-lava flow. When the lava flow ceased, the molten lava inside the flow kept going, emptying out of the solidified skin and thus leaving tunnels. Because they are on private property, the tunnels can be visited without an official guide. The owners of the land provide information, guides and flashlights ($1). Tours to the lava tubes are offered in Puerto Ayora.
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Rancho Permiso
Next to the El Chato Tortoise Reserve is Rancho Permiso, a private ranch owned by the Devine family. This place often has dozens of giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will and take photos for a fee. The entrance is beyond Santa Rosa, off the main road – ask locals for directions. Remember to close any gates that you go through. There is a café selling cold drinks and hot tea, which is welcome if the highland mist has soaked you.
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Los Gemelos
The twin craters of Los Gemelos, which are actually sink holes, not volcanic craters, are a highlight of the Santa Cruz highlands. Surrounded by Scalesia forest, vermilion flycatchers are often seen here (as well as short-eared owls on occasion). Although the craters lie only 25m (82ft) and 125m (410ft) on either side of the road, they're hidden by vegetation - ask your driver to stop at the short trailhead.
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