Located on the trails behind the visitor’s center, Punta Carola is only a few minutes’ walk from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It’s a small, sandy beach, home to sea lions and shore birds. In Punta Carola you can see exotic flora and fauna. There is ideal for surf. Even, so if you’re looking for a place to put down a towel and relax for a while, this is a better bet.
Moreno Point (Punta Moreno) is located near Elizabeth Bay on the west coast of Isabela Island. This is a nice area for a panga ride along the striking rocky shores and a great place to view Galapagos Penguins and shore birds. On land, a path through lava rock leads to tide pools and mangroves. These tide pools often contain green sea turtles or white-tip shark. A birdwatcher’s delight, this site attracts Blue Herons, Pink Flamingoes, and Brown Pelicans.
There are no land visits to Marchena Island. It had recent volcanic activity in 1992. The island exhibits pristine flora and fauna since it was never inhabited by humans. The island is remembered for the mysterious discovery of the mummified remains of two bodies on the beach. One of the bodies was the remains Rudolf Lorenz, one of the lovers of the infamous Baroness who lived on Floreana.
A visit to Mangle Point allows visitors to witness the amazing views and wildlife on the Coast of Fernandina Island. This is a small inlet on Fernandina’s coast where you can snorkel to your hearts delight and watch playful sea lions, curious penguins, and also catch a glimpse of where flight less cormorants reside.
The name of this island means “Sea Lion Island”. This appropriately named island is ripe with noisy, frolicking, jolly sea lions who will welcome you to their home with open, well, fins. This island also offers great snorkeling opportunities as well as the chance to see blue-footed and Nazca boobies.
The lava tunnels on Santa Cruz were formed as the outer skin of molten lava solidified but the liquid magma inside continued flowing, leaving behind a series of empty tubes. Visitors can walk through these underground channels, often more than a kilometer in length, and may have the opportunity to glimpse barn owls here.
The Tintoreras Islets, located just off the coast of Puerto Villamil, are home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Their turquoise, crystal-clear waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galápagos penguins, marine turtles, and playful sea lions. One of the small beaches, surrounded by mangroves, is among the few places where marine iguanas can successfully nest and reproduce. Reached by a pleasant zodiac ride, Tintoreras offers a close and peaceful encounter with nature. These small islets also host lava herons perched along mangrove branches, while penguins and sea lions are often seen resting along the shore. White-tipped reef sharks are a common and fascinating sight throughout the archipelago.
This is a new visitor site in the northeast part of San Cristobal Island and can now be reached in roughly one hour by road from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. In the Breeding Center, you will be able to admire the hatchling tortoises from their birth until the are 120 days old when the grown tortoises are taken to their natural habitat.
This striking rock formation is an interesting view and a great place for kayaking or diving. These two rocks are located a couple hours off the western shore of San Cristobal. Jutting out of the water, these rocks stand vertically at hundreds of feet above the ocean divided by a small channel. Although there are no landing areas, this site is often visited for kayaking and scuba diving. Marine life spotted in this area includes turtles, sharks, octopi and reef fish.
From 1945-1959, a penal colony hosted prisoners who were forced to build this wall, stone by stone, in isolation. This now historical site (El Muro de las Lágrimas), towering at 65 feet (25m) high, took the lives of thousands during its construction. Locals claim to hear cries emanating from the heavy energy surrounding the site.