South Plaza Island
South Plaza Island
4.5
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1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
36 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
6
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
VOLUNTEERMOM
Illinois104 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Just beautiful! Gorgeous color and views. Lots of wildlife. Sea lions, iguanas, birds. Really enjoyed our hike with the naturalist. Hesitated on booking this tour, but it was so much more than we expected. Some of our best pictures.
Written 11 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jbwhitehouse
Dallas, TX1,834 contributions
Apr 2022
A delightful place. Colorful vegetation and different cacti provide food for land iguanas and lava lizards amidst the small, uplifted lava flows. There is a sea lion nursery and many small tail gulls and yellow warblers. The area looking over the cliff offers views of water crashing the rocks and many bird types. Very enjoyable.
Written 7 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
County-Hunter
Tacoma, WA3,175 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
This was one of the smaller islands that we visited in the Galapagos, but there a lot of different animals and birds as well as some stunning seascapes. What we found interesting was how many different species would cluster in the shade of a cactus. You would see a sea lion and an iguana and a swallow tailed full all hanging out together. Our guide was thorough and so we spent two hours on our nature walk. I would recommend a visit to South Plaza Island.
Written 2 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mingfatsai
Grand Island, NE4,611 contributions
Jun 2021
A dry island with attractive cacti, sea lions greeting you, and land iguanas everywhere. Beautiful views of Isla Santa Cruz.
Written 23 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
301lisa33
Coventry, UK1,875 contributions
Nov 2019
Love this island. The island is quite small but it has a good range of wildlife. There are some really beautiful birds over at the 'far' side of the island
Written 16 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin P
Sydney, Australia363 contributions
Nov 2019
Of the two uninhabited Plaza Islands, South Plaza Island accepts visitors. Located (+ two hours by boat) off the east coast of Santa Cruz Island, it is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago covering an area of 0.13 sq km with a maximum elevation of 23 Meters. It is covered in red Sesuvium, a ground vegetation which changes color from green in the wet season. Very flat but with an incredibly rough terrain, we walked across this island - rated intermediate level! If you have access to a walking pole, take one. The Island has a dry landing.
Mostly land iguanas are found here but South Plaza is also the only island where the hybrid Galapagos iguana is found. Bird species are plentiful and include the Nazca, Blue footed Boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds. We saw hundreds of birds flying near the cliffs, including pelicans and some smaller varieties trying to land in the wind, one I watched must have made a dozen attempts to land and kept missing.
Rejoining our boat, which had to stay some distance from the coastline as there is a large amount of submerged volcanic rock which I could see (when snorkling later in a lovely sheltered cove) very close to our feet but we’d been told not to touch it as lots of barnacles which are very sharp.
Our Boat then cruised along northern side of Santa Cruz (which is always clear) up the coast, passed several small beaches and left us at top of Santa Cruz and we took a bus the 42 km back to Puerto Aroyo (nearest town to our hotel) on an almost dead straight road.
Mostly land iguanas are found here but South Plaza is also the only island where the hybrid Galapagos iguana is found. Bird species are plentiful and include the Nazca, Blue footed Boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds. We saw hundreds of birds flying near the cliffs, including pelicans and some smaller varieties trying to land in the wind, one I watched must have made a dozen attempts to land and kept missing.
Rejoining our boat, which had to stay some distance from the coastline as there is a large amount of submerged volcanic rock which I could see (when snorkling later in a lovely sheltered cove) very close to our feet but we’d been told not to touch it as lots of barnacles which are very sharp.
Our Boat then cruised along northern side of Santa Cruz (which is always clear) up the coast, passed several small beaches and left us at top of Santa Cruz and we took a bus the 42 km back to Puerto Aroyo (nearest town to our hotel) on an almost dead straight road.
Written 27 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BJB7775
Columbus, OH75 contributions
Feb 2020
On this day 2 of my Galapagos islands cruise, we hiked around the South Plaza island seeing sea lions, iguanas, crans and more. Very cool experience.
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Serge D
London, UK3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Awesome tour around the area to enjoy the wildlife from this place.
You should not miss it if you come to Ecuador.
You should not miss it if you come to Ecuador.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra88877
1 contribution
Jul 2019 • Solo
ISLA PLAZA TRIP OR HOW
I fell in love with the ocean...
Do you remember the feeling when your child is making his first step, the feeling of getting a b-day surprise from your friends that you didn't ever expect, the feeling of meeting your family after living so really long far from them, the moment of seeing a wonder when you take a deep breathe and can't say a word. Christmas magic...
I was afraid, I thought I am afraid of water but this trip changed everything... Fausto as a really experienced guide from the beginning taught us many things, told stories and didn't just show beautiful places and explained a lot about them, he gave us a chance to FEEL the NATURE at La Plaza, how sea lions are playing, how a swallow-tailed gull mother protecting her child, how another swallow-tailed gull, seal lion and iguana resting together under the cactus tree! He made to feel how life creatures can live together in PIECE and same how is necessary to accept the food chain rules, "one eats another" and still LIFE GOES ON... The Beauty of Reality:)
Fausto was very caring for everybody in the group, helped everywhere necessary, he made to feel really safe and comfortable as the person who knows what to do and how to live in piece with Galapagos Nature, so it made me to trust him and respect.
Everybody were going snorkeling but I knew I won't do it, so didn't even wear a swimming-suit that day. So when we arrived to the Punta Carrion and had to get ready, I told my reasons, fears not to join the group for the next activity but Fausto had solution answers to all my points so I agreed to try my first in life snorkeling with him! Was worried, scared, thrilled, excited, felt shame for being the only one like that in the group...
AND WE JUMPED!!
... then I saw Him, the Ocean...
I was trying to write what i felt so many times now but I still can't find the correct words!
That was like... "Fall in Love", the mix of all the feelings... When you take a deep breathe, your eyes get opened wider and your heart beats quicklier, it felt like seeing wonders and magic, as another world, totally another but still the one you are at! That's how new life began...and we got back on the boat feeling cold, and there was another HOT SURPRISE ;) Which one I won't write so you will want to know what was that by urself;)
That day was my first time...and with smiling all the way back, feeling a wish to hug everybody, whole world, hug the Ocean, we went back... It was a life trip with amazing people, caring crew and totally incredible food. So as my advice is to try and enjoy it, that's like dancing Kizomba with the Ocean, feeling connection and excitement, being alive together, happy smile through the tears, salty sweet taste of the beautiful amazing incredible life!
P. S. Fausto, Thank you so much again! I thought I'm afraid of water but it appeared that I love.. 🤗 really thank you for showing everything cause I don't think I could even try if not meeting someone I can trust, really really thanks! It gonna be a new life for me
With Love,
Aleksandra
I fell in love with the ocean...
Do you remember the feeling when your child is making his first step, the feeling of getting a b-day surprise from your friends that you didn't ever expect, the feeling of meeting your family after living so really long far from them, the moment of seeing a wonder when you take a deep breathe and can't say a word. Christmas magic...
I was afraid, I thought I am afraid of water but this trip changed everything... Fausto as a really experienced guide from the beginning taught us many things, told stories and didn't just show beautiful places and explained a lot about them, he gave us a chance to FEEL the NATURE at La Plaza, how sea lions are playing, how a swallow-tailed gull mother protecting her child, how another swallow-tailed gull, seal lion and iguana resting together under the cactus tree! He made to feel how life creatures can live together in PIECE and same how is necessary to accept the food chain rules, "one eats another" and still LIFE GOES ON... The Beauty of Reality:)
Fausto was very caring for everybody in the group, helped everywhere necessary, he made to feel really safe and comfortable as the person who knows what to do and how to live in piece with Galapagos Nature, so it made me to trust him and respect.
Everybody were going snorkeling but I knew I won't do it, so didn't even wear a swimming-suit that day. So when we arrived to the Punta Carrion and had to get ready, I told my reasons, fears not to join the group for the next activity but Fausto had solution answers to all my points so I agreed to try my first in life snorkeling with him! Was worried, scared, thrilled, excited, felt shame for being the only one like that in the group...
AND WE JUMPED!!
... then I saw Him, the Ocean...
I was trying to write what i felt so many times now but I still can't find the correct words!
That was like... "Fall in Love", the mix of all the feelings... When you take a deep breathe, your eyes get opened wider and your heart beats quicklier, it felt like seeing wonders and magic, as another world, totally another but still the one you are at! That's how new life began...and we got back on the boat feeling cold, and there was another HOT SURPRISE ;) Which one I won't write so you will want to know what was that by urself;)
That day was my first time...and with smiling all the way back, feeling a wish to hug everybody, whole world, hug the Ocean, we went back... It was a life trip with amazing people, caring crew and totally incredible food. So as my advice is to try and enjoy it, that's like dancing Kizomba with the Ocean, feeling connection and excitement, being alive together, happy smile through the tears, salty sweet taste of the beautiful amazing incredible life!
P. S. Fausto, Thank you so much again! I thought I'm afraid of water but it appeared that I love.. 🤗 really thank you for showing everything cause I don't think I could even try if not meeting someone I can trust, really really thanks! It gonna be a new life for me
With Love,
Aleksandra
Written 8 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lanielson1
Fairfield, California59 contributions
May 2019 • Family
Easy walk around the little island to see lots of wild life! We were greeted by many seal lions and proceeded to see many iguanas! mostly land iguanas but we also saw some marine iguanas as well. Not any shade so bring lots of sunscreen and water! Not a strenuous walk at all, more like a leisurely nature walk.
Written 15 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about South Plaza Island
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