Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
at
Puerto Egas
, the rocky lava beach, local trails, tidal pools, and
surrounding inlets are perfect for hours of exploration and wander-
ing. The endemic fur seal, a nocturnal species, can be found lounging
about in the shadows of the narrow inlets.
If you're looking for a workout, hike to the 1,291-foot summit of
Sugarloaf Volcano
for a spectacular view. Across James Bay is the
brown sand of
Espumilla Beach
. There are also a couple of small la-
goons where pink flamingos feed on occasion. Farther north is the sce-
nic, cliffside
Buccaneer Cove
.
The island's other major sight, along the west side of the island, is
Sullivan Bay
. Fresh volcanic formations are the highlight here. A
lava flow, dating back to the late 1800s, resulted in a variety of readily
accessible volcanic deposits.
Pahoehoe
(pah-HOY-hoy) and
aa
(AH-
ah) lava mix with a variety of funky swirls, bubbles, and other forma-
tions. This lava desert is also home to several pioneer plant species. A
small penguin colony lives on the beach. Farther south is an offshore
rock known as
Sombrero Chino
, so named because of its resem-
blance to a traditional Chinese hat. The channel between the land
masses is popular for snorkeling.
There are no modern facilities on Santiago Island. Because of its dis-
tance from Santa Cruz Island, it is often visited on eight-day (or lon-
ger) tours.
Rábida Island
South of Santiago Island, a few miles away, is a much smaller islet,
known as Rábida. There is a wet landing on the north side where sea
lions lounge about. From here, there is a quick path leading to a salt
lagoon with occasional flamingos looking for lunch. Beyond, you can
walk to an overlook along a cliff edge, where marine birds dive about.
There is also good snorkeling at the beach.
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