Safari to Isla Santa Fe

cleared of feral animals way back in the 1970s

Isla Santa Fé is a small oblong-shaped island, which lies just 15 km southeast from the central Isla Santa Cruz.

Area : 24 sq km / 9 sq mi
Location : 40 km southeast of Seymour Airport

It’s actually one of the oldest islands in the archipelago, with lava flows dated at around four million years old, which is why the place has a more rounded and weathered look.

The island was named after the city in Spain. It was previously known as Barrington Island, after the British admiral Samuel Barrington.

The island is sometimes used as an overnighting location by live-aboard boats, using the protected anchorage in Bahía Barrington. Daily traffic is supplemented by day-tripper boats out of Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz.

In 1971 a population of feral goats on the island, which was creating serious damage to indigenous wildlife, was completely eradicated by the park authorities. In the 1980s the presence of red ants or fire ants (Wasmania auropunctata) was reported and immediate control and eradication was performed.

It’s thought that there used to be a population of giant tortoises on the island, but that they may have been amongst the first to go extinct following the arrival of people and the release of feral animals.

Landing site SF1 : Bahía Barrington
Activities : walking, swimming, snorkelling
Highlights : sea lions, Barrington land iguanas, Santa Fé marine iguanas

At the mooring site in Bahía Barrington, large numbers of sea lions are often encountered on the beaches, occasionally hindering access to the two trails. They can usually be approached to within a few paces, but care needs to be taken, as they can become aggressive.

The vegetation on the island is characterised by low scrub, small stands of palo santo trees and outcrops of a large variety of prickly pear cactus known as Opuntia echios.

The greater age of the island has provided plenty of opportunity for evolution to take place amongst the wildlife. There are two endemic species which only live on Santa Fé, namely Barrington land iguanas (Conolophus pallidus) (which is much larger and more pale than the more common type on other islands) and Barrington leaf-toed geckos (Phyllodactylus barringtonensis), as well as two endemic subspecies, Santa Fé marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus trillmichi) and Santa Fé rice rats (Aegialomys galapagoensis bauri).

It’s perhaps worth pointing out that the rare iguanas here can be quite difficult to find, chances are you won’t see any during your visit.

The weathered cliffs provide a haven for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and shearwater petrels.

In the waters of the bay it’s sometimes possible to observe unusually large tuna fish.

The trail is a little bit steep, rocky and slippery in parts.

If you specifically want to include Isla Santa Fé in your trip, then do let us know and we will make sure that you get onto the best and most appropriate vessel.

The island is usually included in the following live-aboard cruise itineraries.

The island can also be visited on day trips from the hotels on Isla Santa Cruz.

accessible on day trips out of the nearby Isla Santa Cruz