The vegetation on this island, also known as Barrington, is as unusual as the wildlife. Giant Opuntia cacti stud the hillsides of this small island between San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. Some of the cacti stand 32 ft/10 m tall. The Santa Fe land iguanas are endemic to the island and are large, with bigger spines than you'll find anywhere else in the world. One trail takes you along the coast and then moves a little inland right into the arid zone. Another trail with more challenging rocks takes you to a small plateau where you can see Scalesia plants, as well as some nesting sites for land iguanas. A pleasant cove was once a popular spot for swimming, but this is now prohibited. There you can usually see numerous sand dollars. You'll also find the Galapagos snake, mockingbirds, Galapagos hawks and sea lions on Santa Fe, which is often visited as a day trip from Santa Cruz Island.
