Prepare for Your Trip

Isabela Island

The seahorse-shaped island Isabela is by far the largest Galapagos Island and also one of the youngest ones. This western island is also known as Albermale Island and features several more or less active volcanoes. There is a small town called Puerto Villamil in the southern part of Isabela Island but most of the island remains pristine. The visitor sites along the northern and western coast of Isabela Island are considered one of the Galapagos highlights because of the abundant wildlife you can find here including penguins and the unique flightless cormorants.

Fast Facts

1. Largest and one of the youngest islands in Galapagos
2. One of only four inhabited islands (Villamil Port)
3. Exceptional wildlife (penguins, flightless cormorants)

Fernandina Island

Fernandina is one of the most pristine islands in the world because it does not contain any introduced mammal species. The island itself is a shield volcano and lava fields dominate the island’s landscape. The main attraction of Fernandina Island is the world’s largest colony of marine iguanas but you can also observe sea lions, shore birds, and the unique flightless cormorants. If you are lucky, you might even stumble upon some penguins.

Fast Facts

1. Westernmost and youngest of the Galapagos Islands
2. Third largest island of the archipelago
3. One of the world’s most active volcanoes
4. Largest colony of marine iguanas

Marchena Island

Due to its location in the far north of the Galapagos archipelago and because there is no official land visitor site, only a handful of cruises feature Marchena Island in their itineraries. From the dinghy boat, you can appreciate the island’s landscape including some coves and a black-sand beach. The fact that you cannot go onshore is no reason to be sad as the highlight of Marchena is the sea that surrounds it. The deep blue and calm water and Marchena Island’s underwater topography make a great snorkeling site.

Fast Facts

1. Rarely visited island
2. Excellent snorkeling site
3. Location: Northern Galapagos

Genovesa Island

Tower Island – how Genovesa is also called – is a caldera that is almost entirely submerged. The island is a bird paradise par excellence. It is the nesting site of hundreds of red-footed boobies, frigate birds, and Nazca boobies. Maybe you will even see one of the well-camouflaged Galapagos owls that hunt storm petrels by day. Genovesa is also a superb snorkeling site. During a deep-water snorkeling session, you can see large rays and fish.

Fast Facts

1. Best place to see red-footed boobies and Galapagos owls
2. Excellent deep-water snorkeling
3. Home of the smallest marine iguanas

Santiago Island

Santiago Island, also known as James Island, is one of the most scenic islands in the Galapagos. Although Santiago Island is not inhabited nowadays, there were several colonization attempts, and there are still remaining signs of it. The island was also frequented by pirates in the past. Probably the most famous visitor of Santiago Island was Charles Darwin. He spent most of his time on this island during his Galapagos visit, and it was right here that he first noticed the differences between species according to their habitat.

Fast Facts

1. Scenic visitor sites
2. Interesting history and captivating stories

Santa Cruz Island

Due to its centrality, Santa Cruz is the most commercial island of the Galapagos archipelago. It is one of only four inhabited islands, and its town Puerto Ayora is the most populous one in Galapagos. Most Galapagos accommodation facilities are located in Puerto Ayora, and most tours start from the airport of Baltra that lies to the north of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Island has numerous visitor sites. The most visited ones by cruises are the tortoises breeding center at the Charles Darwin Station and the Highlands of Santa Cruz.

Fast Facts

1. Commercial center of the Galapagos Islands
2. Puerto Ayora town
3. Location of the Charles Darwin Station

Rabida Island

The highlight of Rabida Island is its red sand beach. The color is caused by a high iron content in the soil. The small island is located in the center of the Galapagos Archipelago and is also known as Jervis in English. With its red soil, green cacti on land, and turquoise water surrounding the island, this place is perfect for capturing landscape photos. During a short hike, you can observe various species of Darwin’s finches and coastal birds.

Fast Facts

1. Breathtaking landscape
2. Birdwatching (land, coastal, and seabirds)

Baltra Island

Baltra Island, also known as South Seymour Island, was a US Air Force base during World War II. After the war ended, the facilities were handed over to the Ecuadorian government. The island is now home to the ecological Seymour airport of Baltra, one of only two airports that connect the Galapagos Islands with the mainland. Due to its strategic location in the center of the archipelago, Baltra airport serves as the arrival point for most Galapagos visitors and the starting point for most Galapagos tours. Baltra Island is separated from the Island of Santa Cruz by a small channel called Canal de Itabaca.

Fast Facts

1. Galapagos’ most commercial airport (GPS)
2. No accommodation facilities
3. Location: Center of the Galapagos Islands

Santa Fe Island

The Island of Santa Fe, also known as Barrington Island, is located in the central part of the Galapagos archipelago. Your visit starts with a wet landing at a picturesque bay where sea lions welcome you. The calm and crystal-clear water make an excellent snorkeling spot. With a little luck, you can see Galapagos hawks from the boat or during the hike. The island is home to the Santa Fe land iguana that can be found nowhere else in the world. The giant Opuntia cacti are the highlight of the island’s flora, with some of them growing over 10 meters tall.

Highlights

1. Endemic land iguana
2. Giant Opuntia cacti
3. Calm bay, excellent for snorkeling

San Cristobal Island

The Island of San Cristobal, also known as Chatham, is one of only four inhabited islands of the Galapagos archipelago. It is home to the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, which is the capital of the Galapagos province and the political center of the islands. The airport of San Cristobal is one of only two airports that connect the Enchanted Islands with the mainland. San Cristobal Island, located in the far east of the archipelago, is not as commercial as Santa Cruz but still serves as the starting point of many cruises and tours.

Fast Facts

1. Galapagos capital: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
2. Airport with daily flights from the mainland
3. Easternmost island of the Galapagos

Floreana Island

The southern island of Floreana, also known as Charles Island and Santa Maria Island, captivates with its fascinating history and intriguing stories about its first residents. It is one of only four inhabited islands in the Galapagos archipelago. Most of its inhabitants live in the small town of Puerto Velasco Ibarra. Floreana Island is home to one of the most unusual post offices in the world. It was established in the 18th century by whalers and is still working in its traditional way. Besides the interesting historic sites, Floreana Island also features beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling sites.

Fast Facts

1. Fascinating human history
2. Send postcards from Post Office Bay
3. Location: Southern Galapagos

Española Island

As one of the oldest islands, Española, also known as Hood, is highly eroded and therefore rather flat. The island is already in the process of sinking back into the depths of the ocean. Located in the southeast corner of the Galapagos archipelago, Española is without a doubt the southern highlight of the Galapagos due to its abundant wildlife. The most iconic species found on Española Island include the colorful marine iguana, the Galapagos waved albatross that stays here from April to December, and the blue-footed booby.

Fast Facts

1. Location: Southeast corner of the Galapagos
2. Exceptional wildlife
3. One of the oldest islands in Galapagos

Bartholomew Island

Probably the most famous Galapagos picture shows the breathtaking view from the lookout point on Bartholomew Island. A steep trail including stairs leads from the shore to the viewpoint from where you can see several neighboring islands and the magnificent Pinnacle Rock – the landmark of Bartholomew Island. The landscape of the island resembles the one you would find on the moon. Except for some lava lizards and lava cacti, you will not find much wildlife onshore. However, the snorkeling site around the Pinnacle Rock is one of the best in Galapagos to observe rays, fish and reef sharks. If you are lucky, you might even sight one of the penguins that live in the area.

Fast Facts

1. Moon-like scenery and stunning views
2. Excellent snorkeling site

Daphne Islands

The islands Daphne Major and Daphne Minor are located just north of Santa Cruz and west of Baltra Island. There is no visitor site on Daphne Minor, and to set foot on Daphne Major, a special permit is required. Daphne Major is a large tuff cone, and Daphne Minor has a rather rectangular shape. Daphne Major is often visited at the beginning or the end of a cruise due to its proximity to the airport of Baltra. During a dinghy ride along its coast, you can observe nesting seabirds like blue-footed boobies.

Fast Facts

• Land visits only for scientists with special authorization
• Nesting seabirds
• Scuba diving sites

Chinese Hat Island

Sombrero Chino Island receives its name from its peculiar shape that resembles a traditional Asian farmer’s hat. Chinese Hat Island is one of Santiago Island’s many satellite islands and lies to the southeast of it. Ashore, you can watch sea lions, marine iguanas, and lava tunnels. During a snorkeling session in the crystal-clear water, you can observe reef sharks and other fish. A small colony of penguins lives in the area, and if you are lucky, you might sight some of its members.

Fast Facts

• Outstanding landscape
• Great snorkeling site
• Possibility to see penguins

North Seymour Island

The island is located north of Baltra Island and stretches over 1.9 square kilometers. In spite of its rather small area, North Seymour is home to a large number of animals. One of the largest colonies of blue-footed boobies lives here, and you can observe both great and magnificent frigate birds nesting. North Seymour is also home to numerous land iguanas. Land iguanas are not native to North Seymour Island but were relocated from Baltra Island by scientists in the 1930s to provide this species with better living conditions.

Fast Facts

• Abundant wildlife (land iguanas, nesting seabirds)
• Location: Center of the Galapagos archipelago

South Plaza Island

The Plazas Islands lie east of Santa Cruz in the center of the Galapagos archipelago. While no visitors are allowed on North Plaza, South Plaza is one of the smallest islands featuring a visitor site. During your visit to South Plaza, you will cover approximately half of the entire island. Despite its small size, the island is home to many animal species and an extraordinary flora. Besides the large colony of sea lions, you can observe land, marine, and the unique hybrid iguanas. The landscape is dominated by the Opuntia cacti and the succulent Sesuvium, which changes from green in the rainy season to red during the dry season (June through January).

Fast Facts

• Land, marine, and hybrid iguanas
• Remarkable vegetation