The Fairtravel4u Guide to the Galapagos Islands Information
Lying 970 km (600 miles) west of the Ecuadorian coast on the equator, the Galapagos Islands consist of 6 main islands, 12 smaller islands and over 40 small islets.
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands that originated about 10 million years ago.
Since their formation 10 million years ago, to their discovery in 1535 by Thomas de Berlanga, the Spanish Bishop of Panama, the Galapagos Islands were completely isolated from the mainland. Throughout the millennia, a large number of birds, reptiles, insects, and plants drifted or flew to its shores, creating the unique flora and fauna found in the Galapagos today. The Islands have never been connected to a continent, therefore, over time, species have developed and adapted to the unique ecosystems of the Islands. Many species continued on and soon began to differentiate from their continental ancestors resulting in the development many endemic species (not found anywhere else) on the Islands. Until recently, the animals on the Islands had no exposure to humans and therefore never learned to fear them and remain extremely tame in human presence.
At the culmination of his journey around the world with the HMS Beagle (1831-1836), the English scientist Charles Darwin, arrived at the Galapagos Islands in September 1835. The scientific findings he made during his stay at the Galapagos built the basis of his essay “Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” that completely changed the course of biological science.
When you visit the Galapagos Islands you will quickly understand why the Spanish pirate Diego de Rivadeneira named the Islands “Las Islas Encantadas” (The enchanted islands). The Islands are filled with prehistoric looking land iguanas, 11 different species of giant tortoises, which give the Island their name (galapago means tortoise in Spanish), mocking birds pecking at your shoe laces, curious sea lions playing with you while you snorkel. There are 13 species of endemic finches (the famous Darwin’s finches), moon like landscapes and mist-covered volcanic peaks, red sand beaches, strange forests of prickly pear cactus, the world’s pinkest flamingoes (!), the biggest breeding-colony of albatrosses in the world, blue-footed boobies performing their “sky pointing” dance, and hunting penguins swimming around your legs. These Islands are truly enchanting.
The Galapagos Islands are famous for the rare species found on the islands. All the reptiles, half of the plants, and 40% of the birds are endemic to the Galapagos.
Climate:
Galapagos can be visited all year round, but there are in general 2 seasons:
• The Garua season goes from mid-June to mid-October (more or less): the cold current of Humboldt enters the island so the wáter is colder (around 20 degrees celcius, wetsuit is needed), cloudy days and a small drizzle. This actually makes the climate fresher so dont expect all sunny days but a cooler weather for the hiking , no need of A/C or fan during the night and almost no mosquitoes. The colder wáter brings more plancton and more wildlife, this is the best time of the year to spot whales during the boat transports.
• The warm season is from November to Mid- May: days can be really hot (more than 30 degrees) and the wáter is warm due to Panama current entering in the islands marine reserve. No need for a wetsuit , sunny days, if you need to warm up from the Winter back home, this is the good season! Expect heavy tropical rains that can last 1 to 3 hours ( really, we have not that much days with rain all day long, it can happen but not on all islands at the same time). Due to the rains all the islands are greener. In between these two seasons would be the transition time where you can have a bit of both seasons!
Tip: if you do not depend on kids holidays, try to travel in low season: September-October, February, or May-June: you have less people on the visitor sites and still enjoy the same fauna/flora as the rest of the year
Galapagos Islands information about what to bring:
On the Galapagos you need casual clothes for high temperatures: shorts, t-shirts, swimming clothes, cap or hat. During the nights (especially in the cooler dry season) you may need long trousers and a thin jacket. Bring sandals or old tennis shoes because they may get wet during the so-called ,,wet landings”.
Don’t forget to bring a prophylactic medicine against seasickness, a good suntan lotion, insect repellent, sunglasses and lots of memory card for your camera. Optional but very useful are binoculars and snorkeling gear (the last item also can be rented aboard). If you go on a dive trip, remember to bring your diving license!
For pictures of the Galapagos click here
Below follows a list with some of the individual islands with their characteristics and landing sites and here you find Galapagos tour options.
Santa Cruz Island
Given the name of the Holy Cross in Spanish, its English name derives from the British vessel HMS Indefatigable. It has an area of 986 square kilometers (381 sq mi) and a maximum altitude of 864 meters (2834 ft). Santa Cruz is the island that hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park Service are located here.
Visitor Sites:
– Bachas Beach
– Black Turtle Cove
– Charles Darwin Station
– Carrion Point
– Dragon Hill
– El Chato
– Garrapatero Beach
– Gordon’s Rock
– Highlands
– Los Gemelos
– North Trail – Media Luna
– Puerto Ayora
– Tortuga Bay
– West Trail
– Whale Bay
Bachas Beach
Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Las Bachas is a swimming beach. One of the few remnants of the U.S. World War II presence in the Galápagos, a floating pier, can be seen here. You may see flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels. Sea turtles also nest off the beach.
Highlights: World War II remnants
Animals: Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, whimbrels, sea turtles
Black Turtle Cove
Black Turtle Cove is located on the north side of the island and is only accessible by boat and with a guide. This shallow inlet is surrounded by mangroves and provides natural protection for a variety of marine life, attracting the vulnerable juveniles of many species. Below the surface of the water, you can see both blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, sea turtles, golden cownose rays, spotted eagle rays, and an occasional hammerhead shark. Pelicans and Boobies hunt here, diving gracefully into the water.
Highlights: 2 hour panga ride
Animals: Hammerhead sharks babies, rays, sea turtles, sea birds
Charles Darwin Research Station
The CDRS is an international not-for-profit organization that provides scientific research, technical information and assistance to ensure the proper preservation of the Galápagos Islands. Visitors can learn about natural history, issues concerning the islands, and see the tortoise breeding and rearing project at work.
Highlights: Tortoise breeding
Animals: Giant tortoises, great blue herons, land iguanas, lava lizards, mockingbirds
Carrion Point
Carrion Point creates a sheltered lagoon with beautiful, turquoise water. During this visit you can snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white-tip reef sharks. The point is on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island at the entrance of Channel of Itabaca.
Highlights: Snorkelling
Animals: Fish, rays, white-tip reef sharks
Dragon Hill
The Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon) visitors’ site was established by the Galápagos Islands National Park administration. A hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon behind the beach is often frequented by flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. There is a short walk to the hill, which has rewarding views of the bay and a nesting site of land iguanas.
Highlights: Hypersalinic lagoon
Animals: Flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, land and marine iguanas, great blue and lava herons, lava lizards, mockingbirds
El Chato
El Chato is a reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, where you have the amazing opportunity to observe the magnificent giant tortoise in the wild. This area is vegetated with transition zone vegetation and is located in the humid zone of the highlands of Santa Cruz. The walk to the reserve is one of the best places to observe ground birds, tree and ground finches, the vermillion flycatcher, cattle egrets and occasionally Galápagos rails.
Highlights: Giant tortoises
Animals: Giant tortoises, short-eared owls, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, Galápagos rails, paint-billed crakes
Garrapatero Beach
El Garrapatero is a wide bay with multiple sandy beaches where you can enjoy turquoise water. Behind the beach is an area with a fresh water lake where you can see pink flamingos, herons, grebes, stilts, black-necked pins, Galápagos finches and migratory birds. It is also an excellent area for swimming.
Highlights: Beaches; swimming
Animals: Flamingos, herons, grebes, stilts
Gordon’s Rock
Gordon’s Rock is the most famous dive site in the central islands. Recommended for intermediate to advanced divers due to the strong currents and surges, Gordon Rocks offers an excellent opportunity to dive with hammerheads, tropical fish, the pelagic big fish, manta rays, marine tortoises, octopuses and moray eels.
Highlights: Excellent opportunity to dive with hammerheads (advanced)
Animals: Hammerheads, tropical fish, the pelagic big fish, manta rays, marine tortoises, octopus, moray eels
Highlands
The highlands are located in the northern part of the island and can reach elevations up to 1500 meters. On a journey into the higher elevations of Santa Cruz you will experience all seven different vegetation zones. The vegetation here is abundant and lush and the weather moist.
Highlights: Vegetation
Animals: Galápagos flycatchers, small tree-finches, woodpecker finches
Los Gemelos
Los Gemelos, Spanish for The Twins, are two volcanic depressions on the highest part of Santa Cruz. The larger of the two volcanic pits is featured here. In contrast to the dry coastal lowlands, the highlands are covered by mist in the garua (foggy) season and receive thus much more moisture and support a more luxuriant vegetation.
Highlights: Luxuriant vegetation
Animals: Vermillion flycatchers, woodpecker finches, short eared owls
North Trail – Media Luna
This is a 5km trail to a crescent-shaped hill called Media Luna, one of the large volcanic craters in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The trail first takes you to the agricultural zone near the National Park Boundary, the Miconia zone, and then leads to the Fern and Sedge zones that are typical of the highlands of the Islands. Birds that can be found there include the peregrine falcon and Galápagos rail.
Highlights: Wonderful views
Animals: Peregrine falcons, Galápagos rails
Puerto Ayora
Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the Galápagos Islands with many restaurants, souvenir shops, discotheques, bars, internet coffee shops and other stores. A good way to wind down after a Galápagos Islands cruise is to take a stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora. The bay is a good location to spot brown pelicans, golden rays, marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, frigate birds, Galápagos sea lions, and large numbers of blue-footed boobies.
Highlights: Souvenir shopping
Animals: Brown pelicans, golden rays, marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, frigate birds, Galápagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies
Tortuga Bay
Tortuga Bay is a pristine location with a beautiful white-sand beach. It is a great place for swimming and even surfing. Tortuga Bay is also a favorite place for sea turtles (which gave the beach its name), sea lions, marine iguanas, pelicans, flamingos and lava gulls which are endemic to the Islands and are commonly found along the shore of most beaches.
Highlights: Pristine white-sand beach with sea turtles
Animals: Sea turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, pelicans, flamingos, lava gulls
West Trail
The road going west out of Bellavista gives you access to some of the highland attractions. On this trail you will encounter the Tunel de Mirador, a lava tube extending more than one kilometre underground. You can explore the tunnel and learn the difference between stalagmites and stalactites.
Highlights: Lava tunnel
Animals: Galápagos flycatchers, small tree-finches, woodpecker finches
Whale Bay
Whale Bay is the site of one of the oldest whaling camps on Santa Cruz Island. It was to here and the other similar camps that the giant tortoises were brought before being loaded onboard the whalers and pirate ships. The semicircle beach is green in color, due to a high volume of olivine crystals. The curious Galápagos hawk can also found here.
Highlights: Green beach
Animals: Galápagos hawks, Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies
Genovesa Island
The name is derived from Genoa, Italy where it is said Columbus was born. It has an area of 14 square kilometers (5.4 sq mi) and a maximum altitude of 76 meters (249 ft). This island is formed by the remaining edge of a large crater that is submerged. Its nickname of “the bird island” is clearly justified.
Visitor Sites:
– Prince Phillip Steps
– Darwin Bay
Prince Phillip’s Step
An extraordinary, steep path leads through a seabird colony full of life, up to cliffs that are 25m high. At the top the trail continues inland, passing more seabird colonies in a thin palo santo forest. Leaving the forest you can overview a rocky plain. You could get a view of masked and red-footed boobies, great frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and hundreds of storm petrels at the edge of the cliff.
Highlights: Seabird colony
Animals: Masked and red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, Madeiran storm petrels, Galápagos fur seals, lava gulls, marine iguanas, mockingbirds
Darwin Bay
The beach is a coral beach where a 750m trail takes you through more seabird colonies. You get to see the cliffs from the seaward side, which are home to a large red-footed booby colony. Once ashore the number of birds seems overwhelming – Nazca boobies soar overhead, great frigatebirds display their pouches while resting on the nearby rocks and plants, and mockingbirds scamper quickly across the sand.
Highlights: Incredible birding opportunities
Animals: Nazca boobies, great frigatebirds, mockingbirds, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, turnstones, yellow-crowned, black-crowned and lava herons, white and yellow warblers, red-footed boobies, sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galápagos doves, swallow-tailed gulls, Madeiran storm petrels, marine iguanas
Bartholomew Island
Bartolomé Island is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island in the Galápagos Islands Group. It is one of the “younger” islands in the Galápagos archipelago. This island, and Sulivan Bay on Santiago island, are named after naturalist and life-long friend of Charles Darwin, Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan, who was a Lieutenant aboard HMS Beagle.
Visitor Sites:
– Pinnacle Rock
– White-Sand Beach
Pinnacle Rock
The best known of Bartholomew’s features is the tuff cone known as Pinnacle Rock. This large black partially eroded lava formation was created when magma expelled from the volcano reached the sea. Arriving at the top of the wooden stairway you are treated to one of the great panoramic views in the Galápagos. The islands vary in colour from a bright orange, to blacks and greens.
Highlights: View of Pinnacle Rock and panoramic view of other islands; excellent photographic opportunity
Animals: Green sea turtles, lava lizards, lava herons, marine iguanas, mockingbirds
White-Sand Beach
Sea turtles use the beach as a nesting site and can sometimes be found wading in the shallow water near the shore, or resting in the sand to recover from the arduous task of digging nests, laying eggs and covering them over. The beach offers excellent swimming and snorkelling opportunities. Galápagos penguins are frequently seen swimming in these waters.
Highlights: One of the best areas to get photos of Galápagos penguins
Animals: Mating sea turtles, sting rays, white-tipped sharks, penguins
Santiago Island
This island has an area of 585 square kilometers (226 sq mi) and a maximum altitude of 907 meters (2976 ft). Marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, land and sea turtles, flamingos, dolphins and sharks are found here. Pigs and goats, which were introduced by humans to the islands and have caused great harm to the endemic species, have been eradicated.
Visitor Sites:
– Buccaneer Cove
– Cousin’s Rock
– James Bay
– Espumilla Beach
– Puerto Egas
– Sullivan Bay
Sullivan Bay
The Sullivan Bay lava field has a variety of interesting patterns made by the shapes and textures of trees that once existed there and hornitos caused when pockets of gas or water trapped under the lava exploded. The low-lying mollugo and the lava cactus are the only plants that have managed to take root in this harsh environment. On the shoreline black and white oystercatchers can be seen fishing for crabs and molluscs in the tide pools.
Highlights: Geology and volcanology
Animals: Oystercatchers, great blue herons, lava herons, lava lizards, marine iguanas, mockingbirds
Buccaneer Cove
Buccaneer Cove is a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. These pirates would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent site.
Highlights: Sea birds, historical site, snorkeling, rock formations
Animals: Galápagos seahorses, octopuses, hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, green sea tortoises, eagle rays, barracudas
Cousin’s Rock
Cousin’s Rock is a wall dive recommended for advanced and expert divers. With strong currents it is a great site for seeing a forest of black juvenile corals, Galápagos seahorses, octopuses, hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, green sea Tortoises, eagle rays, schools of barracudas and a great variety of tropical fishes. This makes Cousins Rock one of the best places to dive.
Highlights: Forest of black juvenile corals
Animals: Galápagos seahorses, octopuses, hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, green sea tortoises, eagle rays, barracudas
James Bay
With a long blackened coastline where lava has eroded, there are many lava pools found here as well as caves and inlets that are home to an amazing variety of wildlife. You can spot marine iguanas here along with hundreds of Sally Lightfoot crabs and herons. In the inlets, Galápagos fur seals can be seen swimming with many species of tropical fish, sharks, moray eels and octopuses. There are also some wonderful snorkelling opportunities.
Highlights: Lava pools, snorkelling
Animals: Marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, herons, Galápagos fur seals, tropical fish, sharks, moray eels, octopuses, great blue herons, lava gulls, lava herons, lava lizards, Madeiran storm petrels, mockingbirds
Espumilla Beach
This large coffee-coloured sand beach is just north of the prized fresh water supply that once attracted pirates and whalers. A short walk inland will take you through a mangrove forest normally inhabited by the common stilt. Sea turtles also visit these mangroves to nest. Beyond the mangroves is a brackish lagoon where flocks of pink flamingos and white-cheeked pintails can be seen. Sea turtles often lay their eggs on Espumilla Beach.
Highlights: One of the most idyllic locations in the Galapagos Islands; great place for swimming and snorkelling
Animals: Common stilts, sea turtles, pink flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, Galapagos finches, vermilion fly catchers, lava lizards, mockingbirds
Puerto Egas
Puerto Egas, with its black sand beaches, was the site of small salt mining industry in the 1960s. A hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to sight land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. A walk down the rugged shoreline will turn up many marine species. Iguanas bask on the rocks and sea lions laze in the tide pools. At the end of the trail there is a series of grottoes or sea caves where fur seals and night herons are found.
Highlights: Salt crater; tide pools
Animals: Finches, doves, hawks, iguanas, fur seals, night herons
South Plaza Island
South Plaza has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the Galápagos. It is also home to marine iguanas and a hybrid iguana whose fathers are marine iguanas and mothers are land iguanas. There are cliffs with spectacular views and a rocky trail circumnavigates the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation zone. The island is home to enormous prickly pear cactus and the endemic succulent sesuvian.
Highlights: Land iguanas, nesting swallow tail gulls and snorkelling with friendly sea lions
Animals: Land iguanas, lava lizards, Madeiran storm petrels, marine iguanas
Santa Fe Island
Santa Fe is a volcanic uplift and hosts a forest of Opuntia cactus, which are the largest of the archipelago, and palo santo. Weathered cliffs provide a haven for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, and sehar-waters petrels. The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are often seen, as well as lava lizards. There is a picturesque turquoise lagoon and calm waters where you can snorkel amongst sea lions.
Highlights: Land iguanas, Galápagos hawks, playful sea lion pups
Animals: Frigate birds, Galápagos hawks, land and marine iguanas, manta rays, sea turtles, sea lions, lava lizards, mockingbirds
San Cristobal Island
This is the first island in the Galapagos Archipelago that Charles Darwin visited during his voyage on the Beagle. This islands hosts frigate birds, sea lions, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, tropicbirds, marine iguanas, dolphins, swallow-tailed gulls. Its vegetation includes Calandrinia galapagos, Lecocarpus darwinii, and trees such as Lignum vitae.The largest fresh water lake in the archipelago, Laguna El Junco, is located in the highlands of San Cristóbal.
Visitor Sites:
– Cerro Colorado
– Cerro Brujo
– Interpretation Center
– Isla Lobos
– Leon Dormido
– La Galapaguera
– Cerro Tijeretas
– El Junco Lagoon
– Pto Baquerizo Moreno
– Playa Ochoa
– Pitt Point
– Puerto Chino
Cerro Colorado
On a small hill there is a wooden platform that offers amazing views of the tortoise rearing center La Galapaguera as well as the south and eastern coasts of the Island. It is home to unique plant life found only on San Cristobal: Calandrinia Galapagosa and Lecocarpus Darwinii. It is also possible to find San Cristobal mockingbirds and canaries here.
Highlights: Amazing views
Animals: San Cristobal mockingbirds, canaries
Cerro Brujo (Wizard’s Hill)
One of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin, Cerro Brujo is a beautiful white-sand beach where brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and marine iguanas can all be found. An onshore version of nearby Kicker Rocks, Cerro Brujo is a very striking, eroded tuff cone. There is also fantastic snorkelling in the turquoise waters.
Highlights: Snorkelling; beach
Animals: Sea lions, pelicans, boobies, marine iguanas
Interpretation Centre
The Galápagos National Park Interpretation Centre has a series of interactive exhibits providing information about the history and biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands. The self-guided walking tour will take you through the history of the Islands in the context of nature, humankind and conservation.
Highlights: Interactive exhibits
Animals: N/A
Isla Lobos (Sea Lion Island)
This small island is named after the sea lions that rest and play on its rocky shores. It is also home to blue-footed boobies, great frigate-birds, brown pelicans, lava gulls, common noddies, yellow warblers and small and medium ground finches. There is good snorkelling in the clear waters of the channel and this is one of the best sites at which to swim with sea lions underwater.
Highlights: Swimming with sea lions
Animals: Sea lions, boobies, frigate-birds, pelicans
León Dormido (Kicker Rock)
This small, distinctive island comprises two rocks which jut out of the ocean and is home to a large colony of sea birds. Kicker Rock is an excellent dive site where you could see many reef fish as well as hammerhead and Galápagos sharks. Sightings of large rays and turtles are common but not guaranteed.
Highlights: Diving; snorkelling
Animals: Boobies, reef fish, sharks
La Galapaguera
At this information centre in the highlands you will learn about the giant tortoise breeding programme established by the National Park. You can see giant land tortoises living in a semi-natural habitat and also learn about their origin, evolution and the threats from introduced animals.
Highlights: Giant tortoises
Animals: Giant tortoises
Cerro Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill)
Cerro Tijeretas is located 2km from the Interpretation Center, on the southwest of San Cristobal Island. It is named for the frigatebirds that make it their home and was one of the first places Charles Darwin landed. It is the ideal place to enjoy a spectacular view of white sand beaches on one side and the roofs of Puerto Baquerizo on the other.
Highlights: Frigatebirds
Animals: Frigatebirds
El Junco Lagoon
El Junco Lagoon, in a small crater which in turn is located within the large caldera of a volcano, is the only permanent freshwater lake in the Galápagos. From the top of the crater there are breathtaking views of the Lagoon and surrounding hills. It is frequented by dozens of frigates and you can normally also see Galápagos pintails, moorhens and pied-billed grebes.
Highlights: Views of the crater
Animals: Frigates, Galápagos pintails, moorhens, pied-billed grebes
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
This relaxed town overlooking a harbour is the capital of the Galápagos Islands. You can visit the Natural History Museum as well as the Cathedral with its painted murals depicting Galápagos themes. The Natural History Museum is full of birds, iguanas, sea lions and dolphins as well as whalebones, tortoise shells, corals and crabs. The only living species in the museum is a tortoise called Pepe, who lives in an enclosure behind the main building.
Highlights: Natural History Museum
Animals: Tortoise in Museum
Playa Ochoa
This small Island just an hour from San Cristobal Island is a subtle introduction to the Galápagos Islands. It is an easy wet landing with a short trail leading to a sand beach good for swimming. Pelicans and other sea birds fly overhead. There is a small tidal lagoon behind the beach where sea birds can be observed as well as the rare Chatham mockingbird. This is a great place for snorkelling.
Highlights: Swimming; snorkelling
Animals: Pelicans, sea birds, Chatham mockingbird
Pitt Point
Here there are endemic species such as lava lizards and red-footed boobies. The view is impressive when you walk up to the high part of the island. You may be lucky to see the red footed booby, the least seen of the boobies. It is also the home of the Chatham mockingbird, only found on San Cristobal Island.
Highlights: Chance to see red-footed boobies and Chatham mockingbirds
Animals: Chatham mockingbirds, red-footed boobies, lava lizards, Madeiran storm petrels
Puerto Chino
Puerto Chino is a white sand beach reached by a hike over lava fields. Here you can see first hand the dry forest habitat particular to San Cristobal. At Puerto Chino Beach there are many opportunities for viewing some of the more well-known shore birds of the Islands including the blue-footed booby and the magnificent frigate bird.
Highlights: Viewing shore birds
Animals: Blue-footed booby, magnificent frigate bird
Española Island (Hood)
Española is the oldest island at around 3.5 million years and the southernmost in the chain. The island’s remote location has a large number of endemic fauna. Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Española adapted to the island’s environment and natural resources. Marine iguanas on Española are the only ones that change color during breeding season.
Visitor Sites:
– Suarez Point
– Gardner Bay
– Osborn Islet
Suárez Point
This is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Española Island mockingbirds, Galápagos doves and Galápagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island..
Highlights: High concentration of wildlife
Animals: Española Island mockingbirds, Galápagos doves, Galápagos hawks, marine iguanas, lava lizards
Gardner Bay
Gardner Bay has a magnificent beach with turquoise waters. Around the small islets nearby, snorkellers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. The bay is also frequented by a transient colony of sea lions which like to swim with you. Birds, like the endemic Hood-mockingbird and different species of Darwin finches, are omnipresent.
Highlights: Beach; snorkelling
Animals: Madeiran storm petrels, marine iguanas, sea lions, turtles, sharks
Osborn Islet
This small island to the southeast of Española Island is a marine visit where you can enjoy fantastic snorkeling and swimming.
Highlights: Snorkeling and swimming
Animals: Colorful fish
Floreana Island
It has an area of 173 square kilometers (67 sq mi) and a maximum elevation of 640 meters (2,100 ft). It is one of the islands with the most interesting human history and one of the earliest to be inhabited. Flamingos and green sea turtles nest (December to May) on this island. The “patapegada” or Galápagos Petrel is found here, a sea bird which spends most of its life away from land.
Visitor Sites:
– Baroness’ Observatory
– Champion Island
– Cormoran Point
– Asilo de la Paz
– Devilis Crown
– Post Office Bay
– Puerto Velasco Ibarra
– Loberia
Baroness’ Observatory
This site shows a breath-taking view of La Lobería and the inland features of Floreana Island. You can also learn about the mysterious disappearance of Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet, an attractive young Austrian, who lived on Floreana with her two lovers.
Highlights: View of island
Animals: N/A
Champion Island
A small island located very near Floreana, snorkelling and diving around Champion can be excellent. Champion Rock is a beautiful drift dive on a wall. The walls are covered with black coral bushes and yellow cup corals and if you take a close look you are likely to find a Pacific seahorse or some of several species of hawkfish, as well as green turtles, salema and surgeonfish.
Highlights: Coral wall dive
Animals: Green turtles, salema, surgeonfish, Pacific seahorse, hawkfish
Cormorant Point
Noted for the volcanic green olivine crystals found in the beach, Cormorant Point offers a trail overlooking a saltwater lagoon that is a favourite of flamingos. Beyond the lagoon the trail leads to a magnificent white-sand beach. Green sea turtles lay their eggs in the sands here during the night and their tracks leading to and from the sea mark the beach.
Highlights: Flamingos
Animals: Flamingos, green sea turtles
Asilo de la Paz
A hill 450 m high that is behind Straw Hill in the agricultural area of the island. The main attractions are of an historic type: one is the cave of pirates and the other is the freshwater spring. The two sites are located at the base of the hill. Also a Scalesia pedunculata woodland exists, in good condition and Straw Hill is an area where the Galapagos Petrel nests.
Highlights: Galapagos Petrel
Animals: Galapagos Petrel
Devil’s Crown
Arguably the best snorkelling site in the islands, Devil’s Crown is a collapsed volcanic cone that boasts an extraordinary number and variety of fishes. It is a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates. In addition, sharks, sea lions, sea turtles and eels can be found amongst the rocks and corals.
Highlights: Snorkelling
Animals: Boobies, pelicans, frigates, sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, eels
Post Office Bay
The best known site on Floreana is Post Office Bay, a white-sand beach where in the past sailors used to leave and receive their letters in a barrel. The tradition continues – leave your postcard in the barrel and see how long it takes to be delivered, and at the same time if there is a postcard with an address close to your home, please take it with you.
Highlights: Post office barrel
Animals: Sea lions, great blue herons, Madeiran storm petrels
Puerto Velasco Ibarra
The small town of Puerto Velasco Ibarra lies on the northwest side of Floreana. Descendents of the Wittmer family, made famous by The Galapagos Affair, still own and run a recently renovated and expanded hotel in the town. From Puerto Velasco Ibarra you can visit Black Beach and look for the medium tree finch, found only in the humid zone on Floreana.
Highlights: Medium tree finch
Animals: Medium tree finch
Loberia
A path 900 m long made up of rocks and sand. The main attraction of this site is the presence of Galapagos Sea Lions that are on the beach and in the bay. Marine iguanas are also seen along the shores and lots of sea turtles in the rocky reefs of the Bay. The practice of snorkeling and kayaking are the main ancillary activities that take place here.
Highlights: Galapagos Sea Lion
Animals: Galapagos Sea Lion, marine iguanas, marine turtles
North Seymour Island
The 2km trail crosses the inland of the island and explores the rocky coast, passing colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. Daphne Major and Minor can be spotted in the distance and body surfing sea lions play close to the shore. Along the shoreline marine iguanas, white coral and black lava rocks complete the visit to North Seymour.
Highlights: Rare Galápagos snakes, nesting frigatebirds, swallowtail gulls and blue-footed boobies, land iguanas
Animals: Galápagos snakes, land iguanas, lava gulls, lava lizards, magnificent frigatebirds, marine iguanas, mockingbirds
Sombrero Chino Island
One of the least visited sites, Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat) has special landscape worth the visit. The landing is on a beautiful crescent-shaped white-sand beach, home to sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The trail on Sombrero Chino explores its volcanic origin and offers some spectacular views of the waves crashing below. Snorkelling in the waters near Sombrero Chino you can see white-tipped sharks, Galápagos penguins and sea lions.
Highlights: Snorkelling with Galápagos penguins, playful sea lions and white-tipped sharks
Animals: Sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, white-tipped sharks, Galápagos penguins, sea lions
Fernandina Island (Narborough)
The name was given in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. Fernandina has an area of 642 square kilometers (248 sq mi) and a maximum altitude of 1,494 meters (4,902 ft). This is the youngest and westernmost island. In May 13, 2005, a new very eruptive process began on this island when an ash and water vapor cloud rose to a height of 7 kilometers (23,000 ft) and lava flows descended the slopes of the volcano on the way to the sea.
Visitor Sites:
– Espinosa Point
Espinosa Point
Punta Espinosa is a narrow stretch of land where hundreds of marine iguanas gather largely on black lava rocks. The famous flightless cormorant inhabits this island and Galápagos penguins, pelicans and sea lions are also abundant. Different types of lava flows can be compared and the mangrove forests can be observed.
Highlights: Galápagos snakes, marine iguanas, lava cactus, lava
Animals: Marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, pelicans, sea lions, Galápagos snakes, great blue herons, green sea turtles, lava herons, lava lizards, Madeiran storm petrels, mockingbirds
Isabela Island
The island’s seahorse shape is the product of the merging of six large volcanoes into a single landmass. On this island Galápagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, Marine Iguanas, pelicans and Sally Lightfoot crabs abound. At the skirts and calderas of the volcanos of Isabela, Land Iguanas and Galápagos Tortoises can be observed, as well as Darwin Finches, Galápagos Hawks, Galápagos Doves and very interesting lowland vegetation.
Visitor Sites:
– Los Tuneles y Cabo Rosa
– Albermarle Point
– Cape Marshall
– Elizabeth Bay
– Moreno Point
– Puerto Villamil
– Las Tintoreras
– Sierra Negra
– Tagus Cove
– Tortoise Breeding St.
– Urbina Bay
– Vicente Roca Point
– The Wall of Tears
– Wetlands
Los Tuneles y Cabo Rosa
Los Tuneles Tour, also known as Cabo Rosa Tour, is a tour to a small group of uninhabited islets ad lava formations located about 1 hour from Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island. They belong to the most bio diverse sites in Galapagos and make a must-do day trip… The Los Tuneles lava formations look like tunnels and over hundreds of years have become a marine paradise inhabited by varied endemic Galapagos species. A tour to Cabo Rosa is ideal for snorkeling due to its crystal-clear and shallow waters. Usually this tour starts at Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island and makes (snorkel) stops at: Roca Union, Finados and Los Tuneles. You will also spend a short time on the small islands to admire its wildlife.
Highlights: During a tour to Los Tuneles/ Cabo Rosa, you might be able to see as many species as the: Seahorses, Zayapas, trumpetfish, surgeon fish, manta rays, penguins, albatrosses, flamingos, Marine Iguanas, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, Nazca Boobies, royal frigate, Cactus finches, sea turtles, a variety of birds, lobsters, sea snakes, among other species. With some luck you might even be able to see eagle rays, golden rays and killer wales!
Difficulty: Moderate, light hiking over lava rock. Dry landing: small zodiac boat to dock. Open water snorkeling from (speed)boat.
Albemarle Point
At Isabela’s remote northern tip the remains of a US World War II radar base line the shore. The Point is the nesting site for flightless cormorants and home to a colony of the largest marine iguanas in the Islands. One of the most pristine visitor sites within the Galapagos National Park, here you can see a pahoehoe lava flow.
Highlights: The largest marine iguanas
Animals: Marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, lava lizards, lava herons, Madeiran storm petrels
Cape Marshall
Cape Marshall is a very special dive, where lava from the Wolf volcano falls into the ocean. This forms a steep slope with boulders and lava ridges. It is a good place for mantas. The maximum diving depth is around 1600m / 5249.3ft and is suitable for advanced divers. The average visibility is 10-20 meters. Reef, wall and drift dives are possible.
Highlights: Lava ridges and boulders
Animals: Sharks, big fish, mantas
Elizabeth Bay
Elizabeth Bay is a marine visitor site. As enter you the bay Galápagos hawks can soar overhear and schools of pompanos and dorados can be seen swimming underneath you. Las Marielas, the small islets just outside the bay, are home to the largest concentration of Galápagos penguins living in the Islands. You can also see a red mangrove cove, passing through the red root and green leaf breeding ground for fish.
Highlights: Galápagos penguins
Animals: Galápagos penguins, green sea turtles, brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, sea lions, great blue herons, lava herons, Madeiran storm petrels
Moreno Point
Here you can see beautiful rocky shores where penguins and shore birds, including great blue herons, are usually spotted. You can also enter a grove of mangroves, where oysters can be seen at the base of the trees. A trek traverses the sharpest lava rocks in the Islands where dry lava is interspersed with lagoons and small ponds containing abundant wildlife.
Highlights: Variety of landscape
Animals: Pintail ducks, flamingos, penguins, great blue herons, green sea turtles, lava lizards, Madeiran storm petrels, marine iguanas, mockingbirds
Puerto Villamil
Puerto Villamil is a small peaceful town with a laid back atmosphere and long white-sand, palm-lined beaches. Behind Villamil are several brackish water lagoons where pink flamingos, common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, gallinules are usually seen. Villamil is also home to a tortoise breeding centre. Here you can see several species of Isabela tortoises next to each other and observe the way each evolved differently depending on their environment.
Highlights: Flamingos in the lagoon
Animals: Flamingos, common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, gallinules, tortoises
Las Tintoreras
A short distance from Puerto Villamil is the small island known as Las Tintoreras. Here a colony of white tip sharks can often be seen resting in a lava canal. You can snorkel or swim in the unique habitat of these animals. On the nearby sandy beaches, sea lions play and relax in the sun. This is one of Isabela’s most beautiful visitor sites.
Highlights: Snorkelling
Animals: Sea Lions, white-tip reef sharks, marine iguanas
Sierra Negra
Sierra Negra is a large shield volcano at the South eastern end of Isabela Island. It is the habitat for the Sierra Negra giant tortoise, which has a saddleback shell. On the way up to Sierra Negra you can see tall trees and lush highland vegetation and the summit offers a spectacular view of the lowlands.
Highlights: View from the summit
Animals: Sierra Negra tortoise
Tagus Cove
Named after a British warship which anchored here in 1814, this cove is located to the west of the island and you can take a panga (zodiac) trip below the high cliffs. Here there is an opportunity to see penguins as well as marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions. Blue-footed boobies are also in abundance.
Highlights: Pirate graffiti on the rocks
Animals: Penguins, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, green sea turtles, lava lizards, mockingbirds
Tortoise Breeding Center
This center was created to protect animals in their first years of life from the threats of foreign species such as pigs and donkeys. Giant tortoise eggs are collected and brought to the center where they are hatched and kept for five years before being released to their natural environment.
Highlights: Two of the five sub-species of the giant tortoise.
Animals: Tortoises
Urbina Bay
The waters of Urbina Bay are a good place to see turtles and rays and ashore is a short trail leading to a coral reef, which is evidence of an uplift from the sea which occurred in 1954. This provides the rare experience of walking in the middle of a bed of coral. Marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and pelicans can be seen at this site.
Highlights: Walking on a bed of coral
Animals: Giant tortoises, rays, marine and land iguanas, flightless cormorants, pelicans, lava lizards, mockingbirds
Vicente Roca Point
Here the remnants of an ancient volcano form two turquoise coves with a bay well protected from the ocean swells. The spot is a popular anchorage from which to explore the cliffs, where masked and blue-footed boobies perch while flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline. The upwelling of coldwater currents in this part of the Galápagos give rise to an abundance of marine life, which make Punta Vicente Roca one of the archipelago’s sough after dive spots.
Highlights: Sheltered coves and abundant marine life
Animals: Masked and blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, sea lions, pelicans, penguins
The Wall of Tears
Between 1946 and 1959 Isabela was a penal colony, where prisoners were made build a wall with huge blocks of lava as punishment. Due to the arduous labour and harsh conditions in which the prisoners lived, this site is known as the wall of tears. A set of stairs provides a bird’s eye view of the wall and the surrounding landscape. You can still see the foundations of a USA base from the Second World War.
Highlights: View of the wall
Animals: Lava lizards, Galápagos finches, hawks
Wetlands
The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.
Highlights: Giant mangroves, shore birds
Animals: Common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, gallinules
Rabida Island
The high amount of iron contained in the lava at Rábida gives it a distinctive red color. White-Cheeked Pintail Ducks live in a salt-water lagoon close to the beach, where brown pelicans and boobies have built their nests. Up until recently, flamingos were also found in the salt-water lagoon, but they have since moved on to other islands, likely due to a lack of food on Rábida. Nine species of Finches have been reported in this island.
Visitor Sites:
– Red Beach
Red Beach
Rabida has a distinctive look, with its reddish beach, cliffs, and steep slopes of volcanic cinders. A noisy colony of sea lions lives on the beach, and a short trail inland is a good place to observe land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. Hidden behind a narrow strip of green salt bush is a briny lagoon where flamingos may be found. Snorkelling along the rocks at the east end of the beach may reveal many of the reef fish common to these waters.
Highlights: Hiking, birdwatching, swimming, snorkelling
Animals: Blue-footed boobies, flamingos, Galápagos hawks, Galápagos penguins, pelicans, sea lions, white-tipped reef sharks, lava herons, lava lizards, marine iguanas, mockingbirds
Mosquera Island
Located between North Seymour and Baltra is the small island of Mosquera. The island consists is a long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks, and tide pools. Created by geological uplift the island has a flat look to it rather than the conical shape of the volcanically formed islands. Mosquera is a great place for visitors to wander without the typical restrictions of the other islands. It is ideal for snorkeling, strolling on the beach, and enjoying the animal life.
Highlights: Large population of sea lions
Animals: Great blue herons, lava gulls, lava herons, lava lizards, marine iguanas
Marchena Island
Named after Fray Antonio Marchena. Has an area of 130 square kilometers (50 sq mi) and a maximum altitude of 343 meters (1,125 ft). Galápagos hawks and sea lions inhabit this island, and it is home to the Marchena Lava Lizard, an endemic animal.
Visitor Sites:
– Mejia Point
– Playa Negra
Mejia Point
There are no official visitor sites on Marchena Island but there is some excellent diving and snorkeling at Punta Mejía. It is a sensational site with calm deep blue waters and a rugged marine topography, with plenty of shelter for an abundant variety of fishes, rays, and sea turtles.
Highlights: Snorkeling and diving
Animals: Fishes, rays and sea turtles
Playa Negra
Playa Negra offers another excellent opportunity to snorkel or kayak, this time around a recently formed lava grotto where it’s possible to capture images of marine iguanas diving for algae growing on the submerged lava beds. Around Playa Negra you may see bottle nosed dolphins, other cetaceans or feeding frenzies.
Highlights: Snorkeling
Animals: Marine iguanas, bottle nosed dolphins
Daphne Island
The National Park service restricts visitors allowed to visit Daphne and it is a select few that are able to visit this special place. Visitors venture up a steep trail to the crater rim. Finches, masked boobies, short-eared owls and Galapagos martins are visible along the way. Red-billed tropicbirds nest in the cliffs near the summit. Magnificent frigatebirds build their nests in the little vegetation that occurs on the Island’s slopes and near the crater rim.
Highlights: Intense bird watching opportunities including nesting blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and tropicbirds
Animals: Finches, masked boobies, short-eared owls, Galapagos martins, red-billed tropicbirds, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, great blue herons
Wolf Island(Wenman Island)
With a number of protected anchorages, a variety of dive sites and drift dives with large animals it is no wonder this area has topped the list of favorite sites. Due to the warmer waters here you will find many fish found nowhere else. Large pelagic fish like whale sharks, Galápagos sharks, black-blotched stingrays, spotted eagle rays have also been seen here. Hammerheads swim in a never ending parade across the reef.
Highlights: Variety of fish not seen elsewhere; night dives (advanced)
Animals: White-mouth and zebra morays, trumpetfish, cornetfish, schools of jacks, rainbow runners, barracudas, tuna, bigeye jacks, blue-spotted jacks, wahoo, bacalao, salemas, yellowfin surgeonfish, marine turtles, schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks, manta rays, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays, green turtles, sea lions, fur seals
Darwin Island
Because this island is the furthest north of the Galapagos Islands, the Humboldt Current has little effect here and the waters are warmer than in the south; as such there are more corals here than the other Islands. The quality can be overwhelming. Darwin’s Arch sits just above the surface on an underwater plateau and the steep barnacle covered walls drop off to the deeper ocean. The water it is thick with hammerheads and on the ridge side there are large schools of fish.
Highlights: Quality of diving (advanced)
Animals: Creole fish, rainbow chub, big eye jacks, Moorish idols, mackerels, blue and gold snappers, Mexican hogfish, cornet fish, trumpet fish, parrotfish, Panamic green morays, turtles, flounders, octopuses
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