Santa Cruz Island 3 - Dragon Hill

Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragón) is on the northwestern coast of Santa Cruz Island and famous for its population of yellow-orange land iguana. The site suffered a near-collapse in 1975–1976 when feral dogs wiped out the local population of land iguanas; survivors were rescued and bred by the Charles Darwin Research Station, and the population was successfully repatriated by 1991.

We transfer from the Eden to the coast by panga and then start the trail along the Dragon's tail; there has been a lot of rain recently, which meant that the trail was flooded in parts. We manage to pass behind the beach near hypersaline ponds where we see a few Galápagos flamingo. The group continues to the mound known as Dragon Hill; it is here where the colourful Land Iguanas can be seen. After that, the group doubles back to retrace the same walk back to get the panga back to the Eden for tomorrow's briefing and dinner.

Another interesting day.Read more