Travel Guide Isla Santiago - San Salvador - James

Santiago Island is a central island of the archipelago, located between Santa Cruz and Isabela, and is the fourth largest island (585 km²). Officially called Isla San Salvador or more rarely James, it is uninhabited, but some brief attempts at colonization in the last century have left many domesticated animals on the island, causing the disappearance of many endemic species. The island is 900 m high and the cold Humboldt Current runs along its western coast. This is why the main colonies on the island are those of fur seals. Many flamingos have settled around Flamingo Lake. The island is covered in its heights with abundant vegetation, its coasts are formed by the lava flows of its two volcanoes. Sullivan Bay, Espumilla Beach, Calate Bucanero and Puerto Egas are the most beautiful spots on the island. Snorkeling sessions are often offered there as well. We recommend the Sombrero Chino (Chinese hat) site where you can swim in a narrow channel of shallow water, nursery for many species and home to a colony of Galapagos penguins. Penguins, sea turtles, sea lions, or schools of multicolored fish may well come swimming with you