Day 20 - Santa Cruz Excursions

 Hey guys, Tyler and Marielle are back with another blog post!

Today, we will discuss our recent excursions in Santa Cruz. Yesterday, we started off our day with a visit to El Trapiche, a local sugarcane and chocolate plantation. The owner of the farm, Don Adriano, who was taught by his grandparents about sugarcane and cacao cultivation at a young age, gave us an immersive experience to show how sugarcane and cacao are cultivated, harvested, and produced. We were able to try freshly-squeezed sugarcane juice, as well as other delicious products the plantation had to offer, which included coffee beans, Trapuchino (a sweet cacao treat), and, of course, freshly brewed coffee with sugar from the farm. Our group enjoyed learning more about Ecuador's agricultural history and found it particularly interesting how the island of Santa Cruz has a better ability to sustain itself in the case of export issues and problems from the mainland, due to the presence of plantations like El Trapiche, in comparison to other islands in the Galapagos.

Afterward, we made our way over to Garrapatero Beach and had time to enjoy the clear, blue waters with enough time to lay out and relax. On the way there, we were able to see different types of lizards and even a mockingbird! For lunch, we enjoyed a tasty meal at Lo & Lo's, a popular local restaurant in Santa Cruz. We are looking forward to future excursions, and we cannot wait to learn even more about Santa Cruz's history, and all the island has to offer!












Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 29, 2023 at 7:30 PM

    Din Adriano is a treasure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 30, 2023 at 2:34 PM

    I’m so excited for your experience and grateful for the opportunity to read about everyone’s post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 30, 2023 at 2:37 PM

    What a trip youall have had!! One you will relive many times in your life!! Thanks for sharing with us !!
    Sarah’s Gramma

    ReplyDelete

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