Galapagos Island Information

Charles Darwin Research Station
Base for the Galapagos National Park offices where scientists, rangers and park managers strive to preserve and protect the islands. The station conducts scientific research and environmental education efforts. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing center where different species of tortoises are reared for re-entry into their natural habitats. Here one can see the famous Galapagos Tortoises that give name to the archipelago.

Galapagos Tortoises

Turtle Cove
One of the impressive Galapagos marine sites, Turtle Cove consists of a deep maze of tranquil sea water inlets, surrounded by mangrove thickets of three species. Its waters are still, usually rather murky and are the resting (and sometimes mating) place for marine turtles, rays and small sharks.

sea turtles
white-tipped sharks
oysters
spotted eagle ray

mustard rays
lava herons
mangrove thickets

Puerto Ayora
Village with growing number of shops, boutiques, hotels and restaurants. The main attraction is the Charles Darwin Research Station & tortoise breeding pens.

Darwin's finches
lava gulls

herons
lava lizards

Bahia Ballena
The visitor site of Bahia Ballena (Whale Bay) is a cove of green sand at the base of Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz Island. The beach contains a large amount of olivine crystals, the same that originate from volcanic materials. Near the beach there are ceramic relics which reflect the same antiques of human settlements that were close to the beach in 1846. According to the accounts of the French captain Genie, a path originated from this site to the top of the island which was used to collect fresh water. It is thought that here lived a group of people who were dedicated to the collection of lichen used for tinting. Here there existed a small population of tortoises from the island Pinzón, that were probably taken by whalers or ancient inhabitants.

Twin Craters
These two large craters in the middle of the island are, geologically speaking, seen as craters although its formation is not directly due to volcanic action. They were created as a result of the collapse or sinking of surface materials. Although introduced species have taken over some native plants, there are still many Scalesia trees. The woodpecker finch and vermillion flycatcher, an outstanding terrestrial bird, can be seen here.

Scalesia trees
native plants

woodpecker finch
vermillion flycatcher

Cerro Dragon
Located on the northern tip of Santa Cruz Island. Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) consists of a trail running through three different environments at just 1600m long. Along the trail, you will see land iguanas that were once part of the Darwin Station’s breeding program to conserve iguanas. From top of the hill there is a majestic view of the bay.

Land iguana
Audubon shearwater
Greater flamingo

Darwin finches
Galapagos flycatcher
Yellow warbler

Las Bachas
Located at the northern part of Santa Cruz Island, Las Bachas consists of two beaches that have a combined length of about 1km long. The name Las Bahas originates from the Second World War, when the American army left two barges discarded on the beach. The first settlers could not pronounce the name correctly in English which resulted on Las Bachas Beach. The predominant vegetation is of the coastal zone.

Landing beach and beach continues to the remains of a floating dock abandoned by American soldiers in World War II.

sea turtle nesting site
flamingos
Common stilts

White-Cheeked pintail duck
migratory birds

L A D A T C O T O U R S
HOME	South America	Falkland Islands	Antarctica	Unique Destinations	Unique Experiences	Newsstand	e-mail