Galapagos: The Rain Forest Highlands

Our first full day in the Galapagos were spent in nonstop drizzle -- not that we are complaining! In our first morning, we went to The Highlands -- the hilly part in the center of Santa Cruz island. In the afternoon, we took a bay cruise (see another post); but after the fact learned that it rains every afternoon in town, so we quickly learned to change the way we divided up our days.

On this trip to the highlands, our first stop was Rancho Primicias -- a private ranch that opens up a portion of its land to tourists who wish to see giant land tortoises up close.

The land tortoises like this particular ranch because of the abundance of fruit trees - when the fruit drops, the tortoises make their way over (eventually) to dine.

Fully grown, these tortoises can weigh up to 500 pounds, and reach 6 feet in length.

Here is a Darwin Finch on the back of a land tortoise.

A grebe was walking through the woods.

And I caught sight of this yellow warbler.

After observing the tortoises for an hour or so, we went to Los Gemelos Pit Craters -- twin volcanic pit craters. (The Galapagos are one of the most volcanic areas in the world, with eruptions as recently as the 1970s.)

The trees here are scalesia, which are known for their ability to capture rainwater. Tourist can walk the rims of these twin craters, which were caused when a magma "ceiling" collapsed.

Here is a short-eared owl.