Santa Cruz was the fifth and final island that we visited in the Galápagos archipelago. Each island had its own unique geography, flora, and fauna, presenting our group with vistas that we had never seen before (and, indeed, didn’t know existed!) day after day. The island of Santa Cruz is most famous for its large population of tortoises. My students and I were fascinated to watch these lumbering, elegant creatures as they foraged ever so slowly. We capped our Galápagos tour with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. There we viewed many of the species that are unique to these islands and learned about the research (historical and ongoing) that laid the groundwork for modern evolutionary theory. Just outside the Station, I noticed an iguana relaxing on the road, as casual as could be, yet strikingly otherworldly to me and my students. “Remember the Galápagos,” it seemed to say, “Where the iguanas freely roam the streets!” It was an appropriate reminder of how the unexpected is the norm on these unique and beautiful islands. None in our group will every forget this unique educational experience.

Eric J. Simon, PH.D., Professor, New England College

Galápagos Islands | New England College