A coral beach landing leads you towards a lava field as far as the eye can see. Hunt and peck over the two distinguished types of lava, pahoehoe and ‘a’a, for signs of plant life that have managed to emerge over the past 100 years since the most recent volcanic explosion. A truly amazing volcanic experience… up close and personal!
This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the ocean front, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air. This site presents wonderful photograph opportunities.
This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is the Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.
The Sierra Negra Volcano features the largest basaltic caldera in the Galápagos, measuring an impressive 9 by 10 km. This remarkable site offers sweeping panoramic views and the chance to observe up to seven species of finch alongside a rich variety of highland vegetation. The northern edge of the caldera reveals striking evidence of its most recent volcanic eruption in 2005, showcasing the island’s dynamic geological activity.
Santa Fe (Barrington) is home to the small picturesque bay and anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails, one leading to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff, and the other spanning from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest.
Located in the island of San Cristóbal near the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The airport is on the southwestern end of the island, with rising terrain to the northeast. Approaches to both runways are over the ocean.
Rabida Island (Jervis) is one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago and a great snorkeling site. Its famous maroon sandy beach and stunning lookouts provide wonderful landscapes. The island is a birdwatcher’s delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as nine varieties of finches, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and brown pelicans.
The Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island is a point of information about the Galapagos Islands. Located in San Cristobal’s largest town, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the center was opened in 1998 as a phase of the project “Interpretation and Environment Education Project.” The Center, in accordance with the goals of the project, provides information about the origins of the archipelago, both geographical and cultural.
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.
At 490m above sea level, Cerro Mesa provides an impressive view of the archipelago. It is an excellent location to observe numerous endemic plants as well as up to 7 species of finch and the vermillion flycatcher. The area is characterized by a persistent drizzle (‘la garúa’) that falls horizontally throughout 8 months of the year. The west side features the largest crater on Santa Cruz.