Santa Fe Island (Barrington) , Galapagos
Santa Fe Island, also called Barrington Island is named after a city in Spain. It is a small island of 24 kilometres squared which lies in the centre of the Galapagos archipelago, to the south west of Santa Cruz Island. Geologically it is one of the oldest, since volcanic rocks of about 4 million years old have been found. However, Santa Fe was formed from an uplift (rather than a volcano) giving the island a relatively flat surface rather than the typical conical shape of the other islands.
The vegetation of the island is characterized by the presence of a dense forest of the largest species of the giant Opuntia cactus.
Santa Fé is home to two species endemic to the island: the Barrington Land Iguana (Conolophus pallidus) and the Santa Fe Rice Rat (Oryzomys brauni).
Goats were eradicated in 1971 and Santa Fe is home to a number of endemic species, which have bounced back from the threat of extinction. They include the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, Rice Rats, a variety of Finches and the Galapagos Mockingbird.
Weathered cliffs provide a haven for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, shear-waters petrels. Santa Fe species of Galapagos Land Iguanas are often seen, as well as lava lizards.
Santa Fe Island is home to one of the most beautiful coves in all the Galapagos.
The visitor site is a wet landing located in Barrington Bay on the northeastern side of the island. Large numbers of sea lions are found on the beaches in the bay, occasionally hindering peregrination to the two trails leading from the beach.
More Galapagos islands:
Baltra (South Seymour)
Daphne Major
Darwin (Culpepper)
Espanola (Hood)
Fernandina (Narborough)
Floreana (Charles or Santa María)
Genovesa Island (Tower)
Isabela (Albemarle)
Marchena (Bindloe)
North Seymour
Pinta (Abingdon)
Pinzon (Duncan)
Rabida (Jervis)
San Cristobal (Chatham)
Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)
Santa Fe (Barrington)
Santiago (San Salvador, James)
South Plaza
Wolf (Wenman)