Islands Info

CHATHAM ISLAND

Location: eastern most Island, 80 Km east of Puerto Ayora
Facilities: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno has the Interpretation Center, cafes, souvenirs shops, restaurants, hotels and services.
Visitor Sites: Lobos Island, Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), Lobería, Interpretation Center, El Junco Lagoon, Frigatebird Hil

LOBOS ISLAND

Lobos Island is located north of San Cristobal. Here it is possible to find see lions on the lava shores. (snorkeling)

Highlights: Sea lions, Blue footed Boobies, Great Frigatebirs

INTERPRETATION CENTER

The place offers to the visitor the opportunity to learn more about the natural and human history of the islands.

BARRINGTON ISLAND:

Location: 20 Km southeast of Puerto Ayora.
Facilities: None, wet landing.
Visitor Sites: Santa Fe Santa Fe’s opuntias are the tallest of their type in the archipelago; the Island is covered with arid-zone vegetation and the trail takes to a place where endemic land iguanas can be seen. The island offers one of the best places to enjoy the time with the sea lions, most of sea lions pups born in garua season.

Highlights:  Juvenile Galapagos sea lions, land iguanas, one of the best places for Galapagos hawks, forest of giant Opuntia Cactus, sea turtles (occasionally)

TOWER ISLAND

Location: 125 Km north of Puerto Ayora
Facilities: None, wet landing at Darwin Bay and dry landing at El Barranco (Prince Philip’s Steps)
Visitor Sites: Darwin Bay/ El Barranco (Prince Philip´s steps)

DARWIN BAY

Genovesa is geologically young; it is formed by the remaining edges of a large sunken crater that forms Darwin Bay. Lava gulls will probably be the first birds you will see and you will be surprised by seabird activity around the cliffs (Red Footed Boobies)

Highlights: Swallow – tailed gulls, galapagos mockingbirds, Red Footed Boobies, sea lions,  Lava gulls, frigate birds, Darwin Finches (large ground finch and large cactus finch), herons, marine iguanas.

EL BARRANCO (Prince Phillip´s Step)

Usually we referred to as Prince Philip´s Steps or El Barranco, here you will climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. You will come across Red – Footed Boobies nesting on the Palo Santo trees, Genovesa supports some 140.000 pairs of red footed boobies.The trail passes through of Palo Santo and Muyuyo trees, you also will see many Galapagos storm – petrels nesting in holes and flying all over. Short – eared owls can be seen if you are lucky, they actively hunt during the day for storm petrels and young red footed boobies.

Highlights: Great frigatebirds, Red footed Boobies, Swallow tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, Galapagos storm – petrels, short – eared owls.

SAN SALVADOR ISLAND

Location: Central in archipelago, 85 km northwest of Puerto Ayora.
Facilities: None, wet landings.
Visitor Sites: Sullivan Bay and Puerto Egas

SULLIVAN BAY

Sullivan Bay on the east coast marks the edge of a vast lava flow which was formed about 100 years ago. It is interested for its evidence of volcanism; the lava you will see is of the pahoehoe type. Other important attractive are the Mollugo, a small pioneer plant that grows in the lava fissures.
Highlights: Pahoehoe lava field, reddish spatter cones hornitos

BARTHOLOMEW ISLAND

Location: East of Santiago 115 km northwest of Puerto Ayora.
Facilities: Dry landing and marked trail to summit / wet landing on the beach. Bartolome is famous for its PINNACLE ROCK that is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the archipelago. You can climb to the highest point of the island, the main reason to climb the cone is get up close with the volcanic phenomena packed into this small island, lava tunnels and lava flows, the view is spectacular. Galapagos penguins live at the shores of the island; you can also swim around the Pinnacle Rock and see them.
Highlights: Galapagos penguins, sea lions, brown pelicans, sharks, Galapagos lava lizards, sea turtles.

INDEFATIGABLE ISLAND

Location: Central Island
Facilities: Puerto Ayora has hotels (first class to economic), restaurants, bars, internet cafes, shops, dive centers, travel agencies and most services.
Visitor Sites: Puerto Ayora, Charles Darwin Station, Highlands and The Twins Craters.

CHARLES DARWIN STATION

It makes a great introduction to see how the programs of conservation are; here you will find the giant tortoises that give the name to the archipelago and also the famous Lonesome George, the last survivor of the Pinta Island. You will also see the Galapagos land iguanas.

Highlights: Giant tortoises, Lonesome George, Darwin Station exhibits, Opuntia Cactus, souvenirs shopping.

SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS

The green landscape of this area gives you a good contrast with the blue of the sea and the small islands that you can see in the horizon.
This area is dominated by Scalesia Trees, and Giant tortoises could be encountered almost anywhere on the trail inside or outside of the second biggest Giant Tortoise Reserve.

LOS GEMELOS

The road that connect with Puerto Ayora to Baltra passes between Los Gemelos (Twins) two large craters formed by the collapse of empty magma chamber

Highlights: Scalesia Trees, Giant tortoises, Galapagos and vermilion flycatchers, owls

CALETA TORTUGA NEGRA (Black Turtle Cove)

It stands out as one of Santa Cruz best costal sites, this is one of the best sites to see schools of spotted eagle and golden rays, red white and black mangroves, herons and pelicans are also there. The place is accessible only by panga. LANDING IS NOT ALLOWED.

CHARLES ISLAND or SANTA MARIA ISLAND

Location: Central Island 55 km south of Puerto Ayora.
Facilities: One hotel in Puerto Velasco Ibarra
Visitor Sites: Punta Cormorant, Post Office, Devil´s Crown

PUNTA CORMORANT:

At Punta Cormorant the landing is on a beach with green olivine sand.  A short trail leads to the lagoon where the flamingos wade through the water. A longer trail then goes over the hill to a white beach of ground coral, the beach is a nesting area for Green Sea Turtles.
Highlights: Flamingoes (occasionally), water birds, Darwin finches, marine turtles

POST OFFICE

A large wooden barrel was place at Post Office Bay in the 18th century by a group of British sailors to leave messages; the barrel has been replaced many times. From that time tourist have used it as a post office, Visitors can check into the barrel, if they find one letter or post card that they can hand deliver they can take it. This is a non traditional post office service.

DEVIL´S CROWN

This site is a volcano crater which has been eroded by the waves. The shallow water provides one of the best places for snorkeling in the islands, the inside of the crown is a perfect environment for coral reef and marine life.

HOOD ISLAND

Location: Isolated, southernmost island; 90 km southeast of Puerto Ayora.
Facilities: None. Wet landing at Bahia Gardner, dry landing at Punta Suarez.
Visitor Sites: Punta Suarez, Gardner Bay.

PUNTA SUAREZ

Punta Suarez is on a promontory of lava boulders that protect the sandy bay from rolling wavers. The trail passes a small beach with sea lions, further along the low cliffs inland Nazca and blue footed Boobies nest almost right on the trail.The trail continues toward the cliffs and the blowhole, a fissure in the lava where water spurts high in the air like a geyser. Further up the cliff is the place where the Waved Albatross nests (Breed from March to January)
Highlights: Blue footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Waved Albatrosses, tropicbirds, Galapagos Doves, Swallow – tailed gulls, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, Española mockingbird, lava lizards, and marine iguanas.

GARDNER BAY

Gardner Bay features one of the longest beaches in the Galapagos, 2 km of white coral sand; this is a good opportunity to enjoy some beach time. The activities that this place offers to you are: walking, lie down and relax watching sea lions, swimming and a fantastic opportunity for snorkeling.

Highlights: Sea lions, tropical fish, mockingbirds, Galapagos hawks (occasionally)