The Best of each Island in Galapagos

Baltra

A small island located north of Santa Cruz; it has the main airport, place for arrivals and departures from / to Quito or Guayaquil

Santa Cruz

Darwin Research Station is on this island, it is the main center of conservation and preservation of the Galapagos species. Puerto Ayora is a little town on the southern coast; this island has a beautiful beach, the highlands (tortoise reserve), and at Los Gemelos there is large variety of aquatic birds and land iguanas which are the main attractions of Santa Cruz

Plazas

Sail south and you will find Plazas Island, the most picturesque in the archipelago.  It is possible to see sea lions colonies, cactus ground finches, swallow-tailed gulls, land iguanas and an interesting vegetation which changes color in different seasons

Santa Fe

Here, you will find lava lizards, land iguanas, green turtles, some birds as blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropic birds, Galapagos mockingbirds and petrels; vegetation on the island includes Palo Santo and the giant cactus.

 

San Cristobal

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of  the Galapagos Province is on this Island; just one hour north of the Island's capital by boat is located on the tiny rocky "Lobos Islet" which is the main sea lion and blue-footed booby colony. Punta Pitt is other visitor's site; it is located at the northern edge of the island.

 

Española

Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay are the visitor's sites of Española Island; Punta Suarez on the western end of the island you will find the opportunity to find masked and blue-footed boobies, mockingbirds, hawks, large cactus finches, endemic birds and sea iguanas.

This is the only island where the waved albatrosses can be observed nesting and doing their vigorous mating dance. Gardner Bay is a good place for diving and snorkeling.

Floreana

Pink flamingos inhabiting a lagoon are the island's colorful attraction; tropic bird, penguin, yellow warbler, ruddy turnstone, black necked stilt, medium tree finches and willets are some of the birds that inhabitant this island. Post Office Bay one of the most popular point on the island, because in the 18th century the whalers opened an unofficial post office in a barrel; it has been in service ever since and the reason of its name. Devil's Crown and Champion are excellent dive sites; both are known for their spectacular underwater scenery. Punta Cormorant, you have an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish water lagoon and other birds like ducks, stilts and sandpipers.

 

Fernandina

It is the third largest island and the most westerly; this island is inhabitant by one of the greatest concentrations of sea iguanas, Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants and sea lions.

 

Santiago

James Bay is home of colony of fur seals, Darwin finches, doves and Galapagos hawks, besides James Bay has excellent snorkeling sites where moray eels, sharks and octopus may be found.

 

Rabida

It is located south of Santiago. There is a wet landing onto a dark red sand beach; Sea lions, pelicans, several species of finches and flamingos are commonly found in this island.

 

Bartolome

This Island probably has the most beautiful landscapes of Galapagos Islands: Sullivan Bay and Pinnacle Rock. it has colonies of penguins and sea lions; its beach is an excellent place to practice snorkeling and swimming.

 

Genovesa

Genovesa is home to frigates, red-footed boobies, tropic birds, lava gulls, doves and thousands of storm petrels. Darwin Bay (formed by a collapsed volcano) and Prince Philip's Steps are the visitor's sites of Genovesa Island.

 

North Seymour

Sea lions, land iguanas, frigate birds, colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and fur seals inhabitant this island. Seymour is a good place for snorkeling and diving.