GALAPAGUERA – EL JUNCO LAGOON – PUERTO CHINO BEACH (B, L)
Today promises a full day of exciting activities. We begin with a journey to the Highlands of San Cristobal with the visit of the giant tortoises in the natural turtle of Cerro Colorado David Rodríguez.
Known as the natural Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado, La Galapaguera, as it is popularly known, is a sanctuary for giant tortoises (led by the Galapagos National Park), also known as Galapagos tortoises, where you can observe this exotic animal in its natural state. Here you can immerse yourself in the natural history of the Geochelone chatamensis, known as the island’s giant tortoises. If you have the spirit of scientists and explorers, this will be a very interesting place, as you will be able to understand the origin, evolution, differences, and relationships between the tortoises that inhabit San Cristobal and the rest of the islands in the Galapagos archipelago.
Specifically to Junco Lagoon. This crater lake boasts impressive dimensions, with a diameter of 270 meters, a surface area of 360,000 square meters, and a depth of 6 meters. Fed solely by rainwater, the lagoon serves as the island’s sole source of freshwater. It’s also a thriving habitat for numerous bird species, including Frigate birds, San Cristobal Mockingbirds, and the White Cheeked Pintail. After exploring Junco, our next stop is the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, where we’ll encounter San Cristobal’s Giant Tortoises, followed by a satisfying lunch.
Puerto Chino Beach: The secluded beach of fine white sand, bathed by the turquoise sea, surrounded by lava rocks and mangrove forests, is the ideal refuge for sea lions, turtles, and a wide variety of seabirds. The white sand contrasts spectacularly with the turquoise blue of the waves, the green of the vegetation, and the black of the volcanic rocks located to the east and west of the beach, providing an optimal place for recreation and relaxation.
For adventurous visitors, the waves at Puerto Chino are ideal for surfing and snorkeling. A hill near the beach is shaped like a Chinese hat, from which the name Puerto Chino comes.
Here you can observe sea lions and blue-footed boobies, as well as two endangered endemic plant species, Calandrinia galapagosa and Lecocarpus darwinii.
