Santa Fe

Meet the endemic Santa Fe land iguana

Highlights

endemic Santa Fe land iguana, forest of largest giant Opuntia cactus, good snorkelling location

Possible encounters

Santa Fe land iguana, Galápagos hawk, frigate bird, mocking bird, swallow-tailed gull, red-billed tropic bird, pintail, petrel, lava lizard, sea lion, marine iguana, marine turtle, white-tipped reef shark, manta ray

Explore and experience

With a wet landing you set foot on the beach of the wonderful island of Santa Fe, where you will be welcomed by a large colony of sea lions. Playing in the surf or lying lazily in the sun, they are happy to take a photo with you. From the beach you walk up to the nearby cliff. Along the way you will be impressed by the many giant cacti, the largest in the archipelago. Among these prickly pear cacti you will encounter the second wonder of this island: the Santa Fe land iguana.

The Galápagos has two types of land iguanas. One species is on several islands: Plaza Sur, Santa Cruz, Seymour Norte / Baltra, Isabela and Fernandina. The second species is the Santa Fe iguana, unique in its kind and found nowhere else in the world! This land iguana is slightly less yellow in colour than its cousins ​​in the archipelago and the head is slightly more pointed.

At the top of the cliff you have a beautiful view of the bay. The elegant red-billed tropic bird, swallow-tailed gulls and petrels flock in the skies.

Punta el miedo

Santa Fe is home to one of the most beautiful and sheltered bays in the archipelago, and one of the best snorkeling areas in the Galápagos – with its crystal clear turquoise water. There is a high chance that you will swim with dozens of marine turtles. Sea lions are playing in the water and it is possible to catch a glimpse of the Galápagos whitetipped reef sharks.