San Cristóbal Island Travel Guide
Travel to San Cristóbal Island - Provincial capital of the Galapagos Archipelago
- Ratings:
- Be the first to rate this.
-
Reviews:
-
Be the first to write a review
San Cristóbal Island, also known as Chatham, is the most easterly of the Galapagos and also one of the oldest in the archipelago. Home to the provincial capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal also has the second largest airport in the region after Baltra. Consequently this island is one the more populated and visited of the Galapagos Islands, yet it is still far behind the development seen in Santa Cruz and boasts many interesting places to visit whether passing by on a boat itinerary or choosing to spend a few days sleeping on the island.
The northern reaches of San Cristóbal Island contain the classic, barren volcanic landscape seen in parts of many of the Galapagos Islands, here the volcanic features peak at Cerro Pan de Azúca (Sugar Loaf). The south is far more lush, with the highest peak of Cerro San Joaquín reaching around 800 metres.
The highlands have been an important place for society since the first visitors arrived here. It is home to one of the few fresh water lakes in Galapagos, Laguna El Junco, and was the location of early settlement with Manuel Cobos colonising El Progresso with hundreds of convicts he treated as slaves. Today many of the slopes here are farmed by the island’s agricultural community.
Along the coast there are a wide selection of places worth visiting either as a day trip from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno or as part of a wider Galapagos cruise, these sites include the famous Kicker Rock (León Dormido) and Punta Pitt where all species of booby can be seen together.
Attractions in San Cristóbal Island
There are a wide variety of attractions around the coast and in the highlands of San Cristóbal, as well as several close to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (which is mentioned briefly below, but listed in more detail as a ‘Great Place to Visit’ should you want to spend more than just a few hours here).
Activities in San Cristóbal Island
San Cristóbal offers opportunities for hiking, cycling, swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing.
Relaxing
Take a break from the rocking of the waves and settle in one of the restaurants or bars in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Getting Around
Arriving by air, trucks and taxis are available to travel around.
There are daily boats to and from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, and regular flights to Baltra and Isabela, subject to numbers.
Most visits to naturalist sites are done by cruise vessel, but there is also one road on the island leading from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Puerto Chino on the eastern coast, which passes through the small settlements of El Progresso and Cerro Verde. Collectivos, taxis, bike hire or hitchhiking are all possibilities for doing this journey.
San Cristóbal Island Reviews
Why not be the first and add your review below?
