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SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Area: 986 km2d
Altitude: 864 m
Principal center: Ayora Port
Located in the centre of the archipelago, it is the second largest island after Isabela. Its capital, Puerto Ayora, is the most populated urban centre in the Galapagos Islands . It has a good hotel and restaurants facilities. Santa Cruz is a large dormant volcano: There were eruptions a million and a half

Highlights are:

• The Charles Darwin Research Station with its centre for breeding Galapagos turtles and an   Interpretation Centre with a synopsis of the conservation work being carried out together with the   Galapagos National Park.
• The Lonely George: the only turtle of its species left at Pinta Island.
• Tortuga Bay with its fascinating white sandy beach.
• Unique species of flora: giant cactus (Opuntia and Jasminocereus), Scutia pauciflora, Maytenus   octogona.
• Giant turtles in its natural habitat: El Chato region.
• Media Luna and Los Gemelos: Two big holes formed by the collapse of a magma chamber.
• Lava tunnels
• Giant turtles in its natural habitat
• Birds: vermillion flycatcher, flycatcher

BALTRA ISLAND

During the Second World War, it was used by the United States as a military base. Now one of the airports of the archipelago is located here. From Baltra one can access to the capital of Santa Cruz Island, Ayora Port, across the Itabaca channel (40 km, about one hour and a half).

FLOREANA
Area: 173 km2
Max. Altitude: 640 m

This charming island is the setting of fantastic legends and stories, such as the abandoned Irish pirate Patrick Watkins, the tragedy of Baroness Wagner and her two lovers, the story of the German Doctor Frederik Ritter and the German family Wittmer.

Highlights are:

• Flamingo Lake where flamingos can be found all year round
• Black Beach at Puerto Velasco Ibarra
• Punta Cormorant and the Pirates Caves: Main refuge of pirates
• The first Post Office with an old barrel dating from the XIX century. Don’t forget to be part of the tradition:   hand delivery post cards!
• Green sand beach
• Devil’s Crown a semi-submerged volcanic cone with a fascinating diving and snorkeling spot
• White cheeked pintail
• Whimbrel

SAN CRISTOBAL
Area: 558 km2
Max. Altitude: 730 m

The capital of the archipelago: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is located here. It also has an airport and a good tourist infrastructure.

Highlights are:

• Lovely white coral and shell beaches
• León Dormido: Colony of sea lions, frigates and blue footed boobies
• The Island Lobos
• Cerro Tijeretas
• Interpretation Centre
• Mockingbirds
• Lava lizards
• Unique plants: Calandrina Galapagosa and the Leococarpus Darwinii.

GENOVESA
Area: 14km2
Altitude: 75m

Visitors call it the “Birds Island”, so you will find varied bird colonies which nest here. It was an immense volcano whose wall collapsed, forming the Great Darwin Bay, surrounded by cliffs.

Highlights are:

• Abundance of colonies of frigate birds
• Red-footed boobies
• Masked boobies
• Swallow-tailed gulls
• Storm petrels
• Tropical birds
• Finch birds
• Mocking birds
• Prince Philip’s steps

ISABELA
Area: 4588 km2
Max. Altitude: 1707 m

The largest island in the archipelago: it covers 60% of the total area of the Galapagos. It is made up of a chain of six volcanoes, five of them are active, each of which has its own species of giant turtle.

Highlights are:

• Volcanoes: Sierra Negra, Alcedo, Darwin, Wolf, Cerro Azul, Ecuador
• Sierra Negra volcano with a crater of 10000 meters diameter
• The flightless cormorant can be found on the west side of the Island.
• Tagus Cove
• Urvina Bay
• Penguins
• Sea lions
• Sea iguanas

SANTIAGO
Area: 585km2
Max. Altitude: 907 m

It is also known as James and San Salvador Island. It is the fourth largest island and has volcanoes, temporary lakes, an arid coast and green mountains.

Highlights are:

• Sullivan Bay
• James Bay
• Caleta Bucanero
• Puerto Egas
• Long walks along paths of solidified lava
• Good spot for diving
• Fur seals
• Sea lions
• Heron, Oystercatcher, whimbrel, plover

ESPAÑOLA
Area: 60km2
Max. Altitude: 206 m

Its English name is Hood Island. We call it the love island because of the mating dances of the blue-footed boobies, albatross, and masked or Nazca boobies. It is located in the extreme southeast of the archipelago and it is considered, along with Santa Fe, one of the oldest islands with approximately four million years of age.

Highlights are:

• Gardner Bay with its lovely beach
• Punta Suarez with a varied bird life
• The Española mockingbird with a longer and curved beak
• Lava lizard
• Marine iguana with red marking on its back
• Swallow-tailed gulls
• Albatross from March to December
• Blue footed boobies
• Masked or Nazca boobies
• Sea lions
• Galapagos hawk

FERNANDINA
Area: 642km2
Max. Altitude: 1494 m

It is considered one of the youngest in the archipelago. It lies to the west and it is separated from Isabela by the Bolivar Channel. There have been eruptions a number of times over the last twenty years and thus it has wide fields of lava and little vegetation. Fernandina has one of the most active volcanoes on Earth which erupted recently (May 2005).

Highlights are:

• Penguins at Punta Espinosa
• Flightless cormorants
• Penguins
• Sea lions
• Turtles
• Large colony of iguanas

SOUTH PLAZA
Area: 13 ha
Altitude: 25 m

Plazas Islands (North and South) are situated to the North of Santa Cruz Island. They are inhabited by some of the most representative species of the Galapagos. North Plaza is a scientific research place, so only South Plaza can be visited.

Highlights are:

• Frigate birds and gulls which nest in the cliffs
• A large colony of sea lions and land iguanas
• Marine Turtles
• Big cactus wood
• Volcanic areas

BARTOLOME
Area: 1,2 Km2
Max. Altitude: 114 m

Moon volcanic landscape due to a striking volcanic cone that can be climbed. It is one of the most visited places in the Galapagos. It is located in front of Sullivan Bay at Santiago Island.

Highlights are:

• Pinacle rock
• Snorkelling and diving spot
• Two beaches with brown, yellow and greenish sand
• Amazing panoramic vue
• Tiquilia: small, white, and dry plant
• Lava cactus: Brachycereus
• Sharks

SEYMOUR NORTE
Area: 1,9 km2

It is situated to the North of Baltra Island and the island is covered with a diversity of palm trees.

Highlights are:

• Colonies of frigate birds
• Colonies of blue footed boobies
• Sea lions
• Dwarf cacti

RABIDA (Jervis)
Area: 5 km2
Max. Altitude: 367 m

This island is located at the center of the archipel. The vegetation is made up by palo santo, cactus opuntia. It has a wonderful red sand beach where sea lions love to play.

Highlights are:

• Amazing landscape
• Red sand beach
• Sea lions
• Snorkelling from the beach

Other important islands are: Marchena (130km2), Pinta (59km2), Pinzón (18km2). Among the main smaller islands are La Tortuga, Crosman Island, Gowly, Cadawel, Gardner, Watson, Daphne, Culpepper, Wenman, Darwin and Wolf well known for its diving spots.

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