Day 5: Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz

We spent the first part of the morning on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill, which is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails led us along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright pintail ducks, and many land iguanas were spotted. The land iguanas offered a glimpse into a prehistoric world, reminding us of a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These yellowish reptiles, often seen basking in the sun or slowly lumbering across the trail, are thriving in this protected area thanks to ongoing conservation efforts.

After a quick break on the boat for a snack and wardrobe change, we were into the water for some deep water snorkeling. The highlight was definitely the sighting of two enormous sting rays. These graceful creatures are often found gliding along the sandy bottoms near Santa Cruz, blending in so well that you might miss them if you’re not looking closely.

We had an entertaining lunch as we chatted with the couple from Peru. We told the husband that he looks like George Clooney and took a picture with him. With our bellies full, we had an extended break until 3:30 pm at which point we headed out to Bachas Beach. Bachas Beach is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz and is a beach for swimming. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galapagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. We saw flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas and whimbrels. For those who went snorkeling, you can add sea turtles, rays and sharks to the observed animal list.  For me, the flamingos were the highlight as I spent a good portion of our time on the beach swimming — it was so nice to glide through the warm waters.