Santa Cruz (Indefatigable): Named after the Holy Cross, its English name was given after the British vessel bearing this name (H.M.S. Indefatigable).
It has an area of 986 km² and a maximum altitude of 864 meters. |
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Centrally located, the island of Santa Cruz is also the center of Galapagos tourism. About half of the island's 1 8,000 residents live in or around the town of Puerto Ayora.
The town is also the home of the Charles Darwin Research Station, an important Visitor Site as well as the operations center for Galapagos wildlife conservation and preservation programs.
These programs are carried out by the Galapagos National Park Service, also located in Puerto Ayora.
Santa Cruz is a world in its own. Though burgeoning with tourism, it has that relaxed coastal town feeling. Its pace matches that of Lonely George, and so don't be in a hurry while spending time here.
There
are several Visitor Sites on Santa Cruz besides the Darwin
Station, including Las Bachas Beach, Black Turtle Cove, Conway
Bay, Dragon Hill, the Highlands, Tortuga Bay, and Whale Bay.
There are many one-day tours to unique sites that are not visited during cruises. |
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