SANTA FE ISLAND
Santa Fe Island is a small and beautiful island located in the central part of the Galapagos archipelago, southwest of Santa Cruz Island. To reach this stunning place, we will embark on a one-hour boat ride from Puerto Ayora.
There are two types of tours available to explore Santa Fe Island:
- Land & Snorkel Tour:
A gorgeous white sand beach where playful sea lions await welcome you. As you step ashore, we’ll embark on a walk through a unique forest of endemic cacti, which happen to be the tallest cacti in the entire archipelago.
Santa Fe Island is home to the Santa Fe Land Iguana, a species that is larger and paler than any other iguana in the Galapagos. We might catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures as we stroll along the trail.
The snorkeling experience on this island is exceptional. We will have the opportunity to swim amidst the astonishing biodiversity of marine life found in the Galapagos. As mentioned before, we can encounter playful sea lions, as well as green turtles, rays, and sharks.
- Artisanal Fishing Tour:
This tour begins with a boat ride around the Bay of Santa Fe Island, where we will have the chance to observe colonies of Swallow-tailed Gulls, Blue-footed Boobies, Brown Noddies, sea lions, and marine iguanas resting on the cliffs and scattered across the beach. We might even spot the famous Galapagos Hawk gracefully soaring along the coast.
Afterward, it’s time for snorkeling! This location is a natural sanctuary with crystal-clear waters, perfect for observing schools of fish, sea lions playing in the water, rays, sharks, tunas, and various tropical fish species.
To add to the adventure, you can also experience artisanal fishing under the guidance of the boat captain, who is an expert in this activity and will teach you the techniques.
“Playa Escondida” is another stop for snorkeling on this tour. At this marvelous spot, we will have the opportunity to observe Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Golden Rays, Sea Turtles, and White-Tipped Reef Sharks, and even swim with friendly sea lions.
