El Chato Ranch

Our trip to the Galápagos Islands was a completely magical experience, even before we made our final stop.  That final stop might as well have been Jurassic Park given the amazing prehistoric creatures we got to see at El Chato Ranch.

The ranch was once part of a larger farm dedicated to livestock farming.  The Arias family who owns the property have spent 20 years converting it into habitat for giant tortoises.

Of course, giant tortoises aren't the only ones who appreciate the family's efforts.  Small ground finches like this one were also prevalent.

But not even the finches were as plentiful as the wildlife the ranch was designed for.  Santa Cruz Giant Tortoises were practically everywhere you looked.

Did I mention that the tortoises weren't the only striking wildlife?  Being in the highlands meant a much wetter environment than we'd previously seen, which was appealing to butterflies like this Monarch.

The tortoises lived up to their reputation for being slightly less than speedy.  At times, it was hard to tell if we were amidst actual living creatures or simply statues.

This finch looked like he had just heard something he couldn't quite believe.  There may be a meme in here somewhere.

Fun fact about giant tortoises: They are messy eaters.

Really messy eaters.

Really, incredibly gross eaters.  But, I guess that kind of comes along with having neither teeth nor hands.

The highest concentration of tortoises were found at the watering hole.  If I weighed 500 pounds, I'd probably like the help of a little water to haul some of that bulk around, too.

This Smooth-billed Ani was a bird I'd never even heard of before, let alone photographed.

These large birds are part of the cuckoo family, and can actually also be found in southern Florida.  Learning things!

As much as I'd like to think a sign like this shouldn't be necessary, I also realize we live in a world where people eat Tide Pods.  So ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Closing out our trip in the company of these gentle giants was the perfect end to this unforgettable expedition.  I know exactly how blessed I am to have had this opportunity, and I'm incredibly grateful for it!

Click here for more blog posts from my amazing visit to the Galápagos Islands!