San Cristobal Island, Galapagos Islands: September 2010

Cerro Brujo

Cerro Brujo is one of the nicest beaches in the northeast end of the island. It has sea lions and blue-footed boobies, great egrets and blue herons.

Cerro de Las Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill)

Cerro de Las Tijeretas is a hill beside the Interpretation Centre and has walkways with cacti and shrubs. One trail goes to a bay where there is good snorkeling. A huge statue representing Charles Darwin overlooks the bay.

El Junco

El Junco is a freshwater lagoon inside a dormant volcanic crater. It is near the village of El Progresso and may be reached by buses or taxis from town. Manuel J. Cobbs had a sugar cane plantation here.

El Progreso

El Progreso is in the highlands above the town and is in the farming area of the island. The tomb of Manuel J. Cobos can be found here, along with ruins showing his attempts at developing farmland. The old Ingenio Azucarero Sugar Mill may be reached by means of a 45 minute carriage ride and a horse ride reaches La Soledad, where there is a stone church and observatory.

Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado

Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado is a tortoise breeding station about 40 minutes by taxi from the town. It was built by the Galapagos National Park with the support of the local government, the municipality and Araucaria XXI of the Spanish International Cooperation and Development Agency. There is a 900 metre long trail beside areas where giant tortoises may be found. The Jacinto Gordillo Rearing Centre facilitates the reproduction of giant tortoises in semi-captivity by means of incubators and climatising chambers. It is used for courses, workshops and community gatherings. Environmental interpretation panels guide visitors throught the centre and tell the story of giant tortoises on San Cristobal Island.

Source: Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado brochure

Interpretation Centre

The Interpretation Centre was built in 1998 and is located in the northern edge of the town. It has 3 independent buildings connected by walkways, showing the history of the island and its inhabitants.

Islas Lobos

Islas Lobos is located about an hour´s boat ride north east of the town. It has sea lions and blue-footed boobies. Lava lizards may also be found here.

Jardin de las Opuntias

Jardin de las Opuntias is situated in the arid zone, has cacti and mangroves, and is good for snorkelling.

La Loberia

La Loberia beach is located near the airport and is about 40 minute walk from the town. Land iguanas and birds may be found here, or you can surf, sunbathe or swim.

Las Negritas

Las Negritas is a nesting zone for 2 species of frigate birds.

Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock)

Leon Dormido looks like a sleeping lion and is a rocky islet near San Cristobal. It can be reached by a half-hour boat trip from the town. There is a channel between the two parts of the island, and you can swim with eagle rays, stingrays, sharks, and sea lions there.

Los Galapagos

Los Galapagos is in the northern end of the island where giant tortoises can be seen in the wild. It can be reached by a boat trip and walk, or by following a path from El Junco Lagoon.

Ochoa Beach

Ochoa Beach is in the northwest and is good for snorkeling. It has sea lions, frigate birds, pelicans and blue-footed boobies.

Playa de Los Marinos

Playa de Los Marinos is opposite the coastguard station. Many sea lions may be seen on this beach.

Playa Mann

Playa Mann is a short walk from the main part of the town. Here you can swim and snorkel with sea lions and watch iguanas.

Puerto Chino

Puerto Chino is about 45 minutes from town and is suitable for swimming and bird watching. It can be reached from El Junco.

Punta Carola (Beach of Love or Playa del Amor)

Punta Carola has world-class surfing and good snorkelling.

Punta Pitt

Punta Pitt is the northeasternmost point of the island and has volcanic tuff formations. The three species of Galapagos boobies can be found here.

Quinta al Ceiba

Quinta al Ceiba has a large tree-house and is situated in El Progreso.

Rancho Voluntad de Dios

Rancho Voluntad de Dios is an area in the highlands in Cerro Verde, near the Galapaguera. It has a restaurant and sports activities.

Tranquila

Tranquila is an area suitable for horse riding, mountain biking, camping and visiting small lagoons. Boobies may be found here.

Tortuga Bay (Turtle Bay)

Tortuga Bay is also in the northeastern part of the island and turtles may be seen here.

Sources:
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Lonely Planet.
Guia Informativa Turistica.
Revisita-guaia bilingue Galaquil.
Independent Traveler Galapagos Handbook. Guayaquil, Ecuador: Flying Fish Publications, 2000.

Link:

Interactive Guide

San Cristobal Island

San Cristobal has approximately 5,600 inhabitants and the main economic activities are fishing, tourism and agriculture. It has a surface area of 55,800 hectares and is warm and mild. The warm, wet season is between January and June, while the cool, dry season is between July and December. It is 6 hours behind GMT and the currency is US dollars. The highest elevation is San Joaquin Hill, at 750 metres.

Geology
It is a volcanic island, divided into 2 sections: the northwest, which is the product of young volcanism, and the southeast, formed by ancient volcanism. The inhabited area was formed by a collapsed volcano that is believed to be 5 million years old.

Human History
San Cristobal island was the first island that Charles Darwin landed on in 1835. A sugar refinery and plantation was started and run by Manuel J. Cobb in El Progreso in the mid 19th century. The ruins may be found at the entrance to the village. More information about the island´s history may be found at the Interpretation Centre.

Links

Come to Galapagos

Caturchrist

Vive Ecuador

Ecuador Tourism

Tourism

Ecuador Travel

Galapagos Tour

Galapagos Park

Isabela Island

Santa Cruz Municipality

INGALA

Galapagos Marine Reserve