Day 5: Isabela, Galapagos

After a short flight on the ridiculously small plane, we arrived on Isabela Island. This is the largest island and has 5 volcano zones and, therefore, 5 kinds of tortoises. 

This island is rarely visited by the boat tours and has a laid-back surfer feel to it.  For readers contemplating a visit to Galapagos, I cannot recommend a land based tour enough.  I think you see so much more than on the boat tour. 

We are staying at the Iguana Crossing Hotel.  So named because the Iguanas cross in front of the hotel on their way to feed in the ocean.

Some Iguanas crossing...

We went on a short hike to the Tortoise Breeding Center.  2 of the tortoise populations on the island are endangered so they've created a center where they protect the young tortoises until they are 5 yrs old and then release them back into the wild.  The program has been very successful.

Here are the 5 yr olds getting ready for release:

Here's an adult in the breeding area:

These guys live to be around 150 yrs old and keep growing and growing.

Here is a 1 month old:

The volcanoes here are still active with the last eruption in the 90's.  This guy was rescued from the lava by helicopter during the last eruption.  His shell is scarred and burned:

After hiking, we went on a bike ride out to the wall of tears.

Sunset on Isabela.