Urbina Bay is located on the west side of Isabela Island. The short treck inland allows you to see different type of wildlife such as land iguanas, mockingbirds, Galapagos hawks and occasionally, giant tortoises. You can also have a spectacular view of Alcedo volcano.
At the beach, you will be able to see the largest marine iguanas in the Galapagos. You can also see pinguins, flightless cormorants, sea turles and much more while snorkeling around the area.
This Bay can only be visited by boat. This mangrove-covered environment is home to abundant life. You can observe several species of birds, sea turtles, rays, and with a little luck, you will be able to observe juvenile hammerhead sharks which take refuge in the mangroves. You can access this site through certain naturalist cruises or by day trips departing from Santa Cruz.
Genovesa is a small island located at the northeast of Santa Cruz. This island is the paradise of bird lovers. The flat trails will leads you through the mangrove and saltbush where you will see nesting red-footed boobies. You can also see other species of bird like the lava gull, blue-footed boobies, lava herons and more. This island is only accessible via a very limited number of naturalist cruise itineraries.
Floreana is one of the 4 inhabited islands of the archipelago. It has only around a hundred inhabitants. The island offer very good wildlife watching opportunities. You can see flamingos, Nazca boobies, Blue-footed Boobies, Floreana Mockingbirds, sea lions and more. The island is full of important history for the Galapagos archipelago and which is worth learning about! Floreana can be visited by cruise, day trip or by staying overnight in the only hotel on the island: The Wittmer Pension.
Point of interest: Cormorant Point
Cormorant Point is located on the northern part of Floreana Island. It features a golden-greenish beach that is compose of a mixture of minerals, all of which are responsible for the sand’s unique color. Not far inland, a brackish lake home to a variety of migratory and coastal birds, is also ideal for flamingo-watching. Here, there’s quite a large percentage of flamingos living in one single pond ,considering the small population of Galapagos Flamingos.
Floreana also offers a couple of interesting dive sites: Devil’s Crown, Champion Islet, Cormorant Point
El Junco is a lagoon formed by a collapsed cone of a long-extinct volcano that has transform into a fresh water source over the years. Located in the highlands of San Cristobal island, this is one of the very few permanent sources of fresh water on the whole archipelago. You can hike to the lagoon by using the long series of steps to the top. You can also walk around the crater to observe local fauna and flora and enjoy the spectacular view over the entire island of San Cristobal. This is a nice hike to benefit the fresh air of the island.
Puerto Egas, located on the western side of Santiago island (south end of James Bay), was once the site of a salt mine. It is now a beautiful tourist site that can visited by foot. The rough volcanic rocks make for some interesting walking. Puerto Egas offer two separate trails: The first along the coast to the fur seal grottoes and the second inland to the Salt Mine Volcano. The Galapagos fur seal prefers rocky coastlines where shade is available and the grottoes of Puerto Egas are ideal. The coastal trail ends at the grottoes. The inland trail is approximately 3 km long and ends at the top of the salt mine crater. During your hiking in Puerto Egas, you can easily spot sea lions, fur seals, marine iguanas, pelicans, blue-footed boobies and lava herons. Excursions to Puerto Egas are offer on naturalist cruises.
Dive site
Puerto Egas also offer amazing scuba diving. Dives sites offer shallow dives suitable for beginner level divers. The bottom consists of a irregular slope, mainly made up of sand and no deeper than 12 meters (40ft). Current is usually very little here, thus making it a enjoyable dive. Marine life is abundant, however, visibility may be a little limited. You can almost always see fur seals and sea lions during the dives. You can also find some animals here that you usually only find around Isabela Island such as sea pens, horn sharks, sea horses and sand anemones.
Cerro Mesa is a nature reserve located on Santa Cruz Island. With an elevation that offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, Cerro Mesa is known for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem. The region is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including several endemic species of plants and birds. Visitors can explore well-marked trails that pass through different habitats, from dense forests to more arid areas. One of the main attractions is the volcanic crater, which offers spectacular views and is home to several species of birds.
Additionally, Cerro Mesa has viewpoints from which you can enjoy views of the island and ocean, making it a great place for bird watching and photography. The reserve also participates in conservation and reforestation programs, contributing to the preservation of the natural environment of the Galapagos.
Playa Garrapatero, located on the east coast of Santa Cruz Island, is known for its natural beauty and serenity. This beach offers a stretch of soft white sand, bordered by crystal clear turquoise waters. The natural environment includes a nearby freshwater lagoon, surrounded by mangroves and giant cacti, where you can spot flamingos and other migratory birds.
Playa Garrapatero is a great place to swim, snorkel, and picnic in its designated areas. The beach is relatively less crowded than other beaches on the island, making for a quieter and more secluded experience. To get there, you can take a taxi from Puerto Ayora, then walk a well-marked path for about 15 minutes from the parking lot to the beach.
Los Gemelos, also known as the Twin Craters, are two impressive geological formations located on the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. These formations, although often called craters, are actually volcanic sinkholes created by the collapse of empty magma chambers.
Surrounded by a lush forest of scalesias, a plant endemic to the Galapagos, Los Gemelos offers a unique environment, different from the typical coastal landscape of the islands. This cloud forest is home to rich biodiversity, including endemic species of flora and fauna, such as Darwin’s finches, owls and several species of ferns and mosses.
A visit to Los Gemelos begins with a hike through well-maintained trails that allow visitors to explore these spectacular sinkholes. The trails are lined with dense, green vegetation, creating a calm and refreshing environment. As you progress, it is common to find local birds and hear the sounds of nature surrounding the area.The views from the crater rims are impressive, offering panoramic views of the huge depressions surrounded by vegetation. This contrast between the deep craters and the surrounding greenery creates a visually striking scene, perfect for photography and nature lovers. In addition to its natural beauty, Los Gemelos is a great place to learn about the geology and ecology of the Galapagos. Local guides often provide detailed information about the formations, the island’s volcanic history, and the importance of cloud forest ecosystems in biodiversity conservation.
Did you know that the island of Santa Fe is one of the oldest in the entire Galapagos archipelago ? Santa Fe has underwater rock formations dating back approximately 4 million years. Its relatively flat surface is the result of tectonic uplift. In Santa Fe you will find one of the most iconic endemic species of the Galapagos : the Santa Fe land iguana. A very characteristic iguana due to its yellowish color. Another endemic specie to this island is the Santa Fe rice rat, but don’t worry, it can only be seen at night.
During this day you will also be able to observe the largest species of opuntia cactus and the Galapagos hawk (the largest predator on the island), the blue-footed booby, the Galapagos sea lion, frigate birds (royal and magnificent) and the marine iguana. Once the walk is finished, you can swim in the Encañada, where it is also possible to snorkel with sea turtles, rays, sea lions and colorful fish while swimming in the warm and crystal clear waters of this island.
Dive site
The island of Santa Fe offers several sites for scuba diving. The first site is called the Punta and is composed of a pinnacle, the underwater floor of which is composed of stacked rocks forming a downward slope to a sandy bottom at approximately 91 feet (28 m). The second site, La Cueva, is also made up of rocks, with a network of “swim throughs” allowing you to have fun. Around Santa Fe, it is possible to observe a wide diversity of colorful fish, sea lions, red-lipped batfish and white-tip sharks. This island is only visited by daily trips from Santa Cruz. No diving cruise stops here.