Today it was a 430am wake-up to leave the hotel at 5 to catch a 6am ferry back to Santa Cruz. One benefit of our early mornings has been beautiful sunrises.
After another 2 hour ride and a nice breakfast, we walked a mile or so to a spectacular beach to spend the morning swimming and relaxing - with lots of sun screen!
We then took a water taxi back to town and had lunch. After, we walked to the Darwin Research Center where we learned more about his visit to the islands and about the tortoises they are breeding here for various islands other than Isabela.
Many of these have a saddleback shell that is very different from the populations on Isabella.
A highlight was seeing Lonesome George who was the last tortoise on Pinta Island and for whom they tried and failed to find a mate. He died in 2012 and his preserved remains are here.
After we got to do some shopping and then had a lovely dinner where we were entertained by a Peruvian flutist. Back at the hotel after dinner we had a real tropical downpour which many of these kids frolicked in. Another early morning tomorrow!
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