Our final day cruising around the Galapagos! What a trip! We set sail in the morning for South Plaza Island. One of the smallest islands in the Galapagos, South Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas. We walked along a path through a cactus forest to a viewpoint: a combination of dry and coastal vegetation.
In the afternoon we visited Santa Fé Island (also called Barrington) which is well-known as a great place for watching (and swimming with) sea lions. There is only one place to land launches, but two different trails offer varied experiences. The shorter of the two hikes leads from the beach into a sparse forest of Prickly Pear Cactus. The second, longer trail goes up a cliff side into an area inhabited by Land Iguanas. The interior terrain of the island is interesting, with a good panoramic view from the cliff top. Back on the beach, it is easy to sit for hours just watching the antics of the sociable sea lions.
