The Galápagos Islands - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 411

islands. Nearby is small Isla Pinta, which, likewise, is very rarely vis-
ited and only on longer specialized tours.
Plazas Islands
The tiny Plazas Islands, which are really just big rocks, sit off the
eastern tip of Santa Cruz Island. South Plaza Island (32 acres) is eas-
ily accessible as a day-trip from Puerto Ayora. North Plaza Island is
not open to visitors. South Plaza Island's trail, which begins at a
rocky landing, follows the edge of a cliff and offers great views from
above. A forest of opuntia cactus spreads across the small landmass
and, combined with the reddish groundcover, provides habitat for the
yellow land iguana. Various seabirds live here and are fun to watch
from the edge of the cliff as they dance in the sky.
Plaza Island offers no modern facilities and is accessible only as part
of prearranged island tours. It is included on most tours.
San Cristóbal Island
The easternmost (and fifth-largest) of all the islands is San Cristóbal.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the main entry point and is the pro-
vincial capital of the Galápagos. Some flights actually arrive on San
Cristóbal and some tours begin here, although most begin in Puerto
Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The town is quite pleasant, with a laid-
back atmosphere and unique Afro-Ecuadorian culture.
A short ride or walk from town provides the opportunity to see the is-
lands' best and newest visitor center . Verymodern and illustrative,
it is well worth a visit to learn about the human and natural history of
the islands. Everything is written in both English and Spanish, and
the interactive approach to the displays makes it quite enjoyable.
Another short trail out of town leads to Frigate Bird Hill , where
both the greater and the magnificent frigate birds are known to nest.
The hill also provides good views of the bay. Northeast of town, past
the village of El Progresso , is the highest point on the island, Cerro
San Joaquin (2,930 feet); and, several miles farther, El Junco ,a
freshwater lagoon. Not many tours head out this direction, but the
trail offers a good opportunity to view the inter-island life zones with-
out the heavy traffic of Santa Cruz Island.
The tiny Isla Lobos is about an hour northeast of Puerto Moreno by
boat. Although not as spectacular as some of the other stops, it is the