Santa Fe (Barrington)

Santa Fe offers one of the more beautiful and sheltered coves in the islands. Its turquoise lagoon is protected by a peninsula of tiny islets. The island lies to the southeast of Santa Cruz within sight of Puerto Ayora.

Like North Seymour, Santa Fe has been uplifted seismically and you can see the underwater lava formations. A wet landing on a sandy white beach brings us into contact with one of the many sea lion harems. Bulls vie for the right of Beach Master while smaller males masquerade as females to make stealthy mating moves.

Galapagos Hawks, perched atop salt bushes, are often easily approached. An ascending trail leads toward the cliffs where a dense thicket covers the inland side.

The cliff side provides an expansive vista. This is the best place to spot one of the large species of land iguana native to Santa Fe.

Beige to chocolate brown in color with dragon-like spinal columns, these huge iguanas truly resemble dinosaurs.

An indigenous species of rice rat also inhabits the thicket and lucky hikers spot harmless Galapagos snakes.

After the hike, there is nothing more inviting than a swim in the calm waters of the bay followed by watching the sun set behind the island cliffs as dusk settles over the Galapagos.