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 Floreana:
This is the sixth largest of the islands at 173 sq km. The
official name is Santa Maria. Floreana Island is known because of its
colourful history of pirates, whalers, convicts, buccaneers and
colonist and even today you still can smell parts of the history. The
Post Office barrel that was established by British whalers in 1793 has
been used to send letters to and from England. Even today, visitors
may drop off and pick up letters.
Española: This 61 sq km is the most southerly in the
archipelago and has two visitor sites. The island is most famous for
its waved albatross community. The community is found on the island
from late March to early December, and one of the most incredible sea
birds found on the Galapagos. There are two visitor sites: Gardner Bay
and Punta Suarez.
Genovesa: This island covers 14 sq km and is the northeastern
most of the Galapagos Islands,. As it is an outlying island. Genevosa
is the remains of an extinct volcano that is open to the sea on the
south side. The caldera of the volcano forms a cove, the Darwin Bay,
with sheltered by high cliffs. The island is very dry and flat and
mostly inhabited by birds. There are large colonies of red-footed and
masked boobies.
Santa Fe: This 24 sq km island about 20km southeast of Santa
Cruz is a popular destination for day trips. There is a good anchorage
in an attractive bay on the northeast coast, and wet landing gives the
visitor a choice of two trails. A short loop leads you to a forest of
Opuntia cactus which is the home to the Santa Fe land iguana. So by
growing tall the cactus kills two birds with one stone: it protects
itself and receives full sunlight. The other trail takes you through
sea lion colonies up to a cliff from where you can observe various
seabirds and Galapagos doves.
Marchena: It is also know as Blindoe. at 130sq km, this is the
seventh largest island in the archipelago and the largest one to have
no official visitors sites. There are some good scuba diving sites,
however, so you may get to see the island up close if you are o a dive
trip.
Pinta: The Pinta is the original home of Lonesome George, last
remaining survivor of the island's race of tortoises. He was
discovered in 1971 and was removed to the Charles Darwin Research
Station on Santa Cruz. There are landing sites, but the island has no
visitor sites and researchers require a permit to visit.
Rabida: This approximately 5 sq km island, also know as Jervis,
lies 5 km south of Santiago, There is a wet landing on to a dark red
beach where sea lions haul out and pelicans nest this is one of the
best places to see these birds nesting. Behind the beach, there is a
saltwater lagoon where flamingos and white cheeked pintails are
sometimes seen.
Pinzon: This island also called Duncan has no visitor sites. It
is a cliff bound island, which makes landing difficult and permit is
required to visit it. continues...
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