The Galápagos Islands - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 406

will probablymeet you at the airport. Or follow the crowd fromhere to
the shuttle bus, which takes you to the ferry that crosses over to
Santa Cruz Island. Wait along the shoreline and watch as pelicans
dive for fish nearby. Your wildlife viewing has already begun! Once on
Santa Cruz, another bus or private transport will cross the island to
Puerto Ayora, where most tours begin.
North Seymour Island
Isla Seymour is just north of Baltra and is often visited toward the
end of a tour, before heading back to the airport on Baltra. This small
island, about .75 squaremiles, offers a nice sample of Galápagos wild-
life in one short hike. The magnificent frigate bird in courtship is the
highlight. Males, with their bright red pouches inflated like balloons,
offer great photo ops. Blue-footed boobies, sea lions, andmarine igua-
nas are common here as well. The easy trail can take from45minutes
to a few hours, depending on your level of curiosity.
Seymour Island offers no modern facilities and is accessible only as
part of prearranged island tours, most of which stop here.
Santa Cruz Island
Chances are that your tour will begin here. A ferry from Isla Baltra
provides transportation to the north side of Santa Cruz, and land
transportation will continue to Puerto Ayora , where cruise vessels
are docked.
Unfortunately, Santa Cruz Island is in grave danger as a result of
continued development. In fact, it has the largest population of all the
Galápagos islands, with over half of the archipelago's 20,000+ inhab-
itants. Its future will depend on a recent moratorium on immigration
to the islands and effective regulation of agricultural expansion as
well as other indirect impacts of tourism.
Puerto Ayora, the main town and focal point for tourism, lies on the
south side of the island. Withinwalking distance is the Charles Dar-
win Research Station . Most tours stop by the station at some point
during their visit. The walk from town to the research station passes
through a unique “forest” of manzanilla, saltbush, and various cacti.
Insects, which are relatively under-represented on the islands (com-
pared to the mainland), abound in various shapes and sizes. Birders
will enjoy Darwin's finches, flycatchers, and Galápagos mocking-
birds.