Yesterday was my last day of Spanish class, so i had my first morning off since I've been here! The other two Performing Arts Abroad volunteers, Jenna and Tony, and I went to Galapagera and El Hungo today.
Galapagera is a nature reserve for the turtles on San Cristobal. When you enter, you walk through this giant loop around the property. Today, there were three huge turtles on the trail! We had to slowly walk around them. I was afraid they would bite us, but they saw us walking beside them and went into their shells. Let me emphasize that these turtles were HUGE. I'm pretty sure I could sit in one and have it give me a ride.
As you continue along the path, there is the home for the babies about half way through. Here, staff collects eggs they find and house them in an office. Once the turtles hatch, they are moved into these large cage-like things. They remain here until they are three years old. After that, they advance into a confined space in the wild until they are nine. Once they are ten years old, they are let into the wild.
The staff controls the beginning stages of the turtles' lives because of the diminishing species population. Many of the invasive species, particularly blackberry bushes, have destroyed their habitat and food supply. Therefore, the reserve is making an effort to rebuild the population.
After our time at Galapagera, we went to El Hungo, the volcano on San Cristobal. It is located at the center of the island in an area referred to as "the highlands" by the locals. We hiked the volcano in about 30 minutes. Honestly, it wasn't what I had expected at all! It looked more like a mountain covered with trees than a powerful force that could erupt! It is always raining in the highlands, so it was extremely foggy at the top. However, if we looked very closely we could see the lake that is in the center of the volcano. It was breath taking.
Tomorrow, four volunteers and I are going to a waterfall on the island. That should be beautiful as well! The landscape here is so pure. I love looking up into the clear blue sky, watching the sun set, observing the noisy lobos, going star gazing, searching for birds and iguanas on the beach, and seeing hundred of fish snorkeling! I love being able to walk everywhere and finding something new every time. The island is so peaceful and so stunningly beautiful.
Galapagera is a nature reserve for the turtles on San Cristobal. When you enter, you walk through this giant loop around the property. Today, there were three huge turtles on the trail! We had to slowly walk around them. I was afraid they would bite us, but they saw us walking beside them and went into their shells. Let me emphasize that these turtles were HUGE. I'm pretty sure I could sit in one and have it give me a ride.
As you continue along the path, there is the home for the babies about half way through. Here, staff collects eggs they find and house them in an office. Once the turtles hatch, they are moved into these large cage-like things. They remain here until they are three years old. After that, they advance into a confined space in the wild until they are nine. Once they are ten years old, they are let into the wild.
The staff controls the beginning stages of the turtles' lives because of the diminishing species population. Many of the invasive species, particularly blackberry bushes, have destroyed their habitat and food supply. Therefore, the reserve is making an effort to rebuild the population.
After our time at Galapagera, we went to El Hungo, the volcano on San Cristobal. It is located at the center of the island in an area referred to as "the highlands" by the locals. We hiked the volcano in about 30 minutes. Honestly, it wasn't what I had expected at all! It looked more like a mountain covered with trees than a powerful force that could erupt! It is always raining in the highlands, so it was extremely foggy at the top. However, if we looked very closely we could see the lake that is in the center of the volcano. It was breath taking.
Tomorrow, four volunteers and I are going to a waterfall on the island. That should be beautiful as well! The landscape here is so pure. I love looking up into the clear blue sky, watching the sun set, observing the noisy lobos, going star gazing, searching for birds and iguanas on the beach, and seeing hundred of fish snorkeling! I love being able to walk everywhere and finding something new every time. The island is so peaceful and so stunningly beautiful.