Departure from Hotel: 08h00 approximately.
Arrival to the Hotel: 16h30 approximately.

Includes: Lunch onboard, naturalist Guide, towels and excursions.
Not Included: Snorkel equipment, beverages and tips.

The Yacht reserves the right to arrive in advance or later without prior notice, if considered appropriate due to National Park rules, major force or any consideration at captain’s discretion, without being liable for refunds of any kind. 

Recommendations:  walking shoes, sandals, swimsuit, sun block, repellent and bottles of water.

The visitor site on Santa Fe lies behind a pretty, sheltered bay on the northeastern corner of the island: a perfect anchorage and a good snorkeling spot.  This small island is formed of uplifted, submarine basaltic lavas, formed around 4 million years ago.  Much of it is a faulted plateau covered with a forest of giant Opuntia cacti.

The unnamed bay with a white sandy floor and turquoise waters is an impressive place to arrive.  Along the natural harbour, you can snorkel with young sea-lions.  Schools of yellow-tailed surgeonfish, sergeant majors, damsel – and parrotfish can be seen, plus the odd grouper, sting rays and white-tip reef shark (these are harmless).

The beach has saltbush and Maytenus behind.  There are two trails.  The first is a tough walk along a dried watercourse, to a high escarpment to the southeast which is great for views (1.5 km each way); the second is a short, fruitful loop that climbs through the arid vegetation to some giant Opuntia forest where land iguanas may be seen (800m).  This second trail is the most commonly followed.

As you walk through the dense bushes on the short trail, watch out for the Croton bushes, an endemic plant with an indelible stain.  The most spectacular plants are the giant prickly pear cacti, unique to Santa Fe (Opuntia echios barringtonensis).  Listen carefully for rustling sounds; they could be made by the endemic rice rat, these are extremely rare; the only other island with endemic rodents is Fernandina.  The Galapagos dove is common on the trail, as are painted locusts, often pursued by a snake or two.  The park monument is often a vantage point to spy a Galapagos hawk.  The highlight is the land iguana, a lighter-coloured iguana that is endemic to Santa Fe.

WATCH OUT FOR:

Galapagos Sea Lion
Sand Dollar
Ghost Crab
Galapagos Rice Rat
Central Galapagos Racer
Santa Fe Land Iguana
Galápagos Hawk
Ground Finches
Cactus Finch
Palo Santo
Muyuyu
Galapagos Lantana
Leatherleaf
Prickly Pear Cactus
Heller’s Scalesia
Saltbush
Spiny Bush
Galapagos Croton
Velvet Shrub
Feather Fingergrass