San Cristóbal Island

Galapagos, Ecuador

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San Cristóbal Island, located in the Galapagos archipelago of Ecuador, is the easternmost and one of the oldest islands, formed by the fusion of three or four extinct volcanoes.

It is the most fertile island in the Galapagos and hosts the only permanent freshwater source in the entire archipelago, El Junco lake, which contributed to the island being the first settled and home to the oldest town in the Galapagos. This island is where Charles Darwin first landed in 1835, and it remains important today as the provincial capital, with the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno serving as the administrative center.

San Cristóbal features diverse visitor sites including the coral sand beach and snorkeling area Cerro Brujo, wildlife-rich Sapho Bay, and marine sites such as Kicker Rock, known for its dramatic vertical rock formations and abundant wildlife like sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and frigatebirds.

The island offers a rich combination of cultural history, volcanic landscapes, and diverse ecosystems both on land and in surrounding waters, making it a key destination in the Galapagos for nature lovers and eco-tourists.