About San Cristobal

Depending on availability we will book your stay with Partner Hotels in San Cristobal

This is the capital of the province, and has the second largest number of inhabitants in the archipelago. From 1836 to 1904, a large portion of the highlands of the island belonged to Hacienda El Progreso, with extensive sugar and coffee plantations owned by M.J. Cobos. Cobos made an empire of his hacienda (it even had its own currency).

San Cristobal, also known as Chatham, is the easternmost island in the Galapagos. It is the site of the only permanent stream in the archipelago and is also where Darwin first went ashore in 1835.

San Cristobal island is made up of two coalesced volcanoes and has an area of 558 km² and its highest point rises to 730 meters and lies at the south-western tip of the island. This island hosts frigate birds, Galapagos sea lions, turtles, blue and red footed boobies, tropical birds, marine iguanas, dolphin, swallow-tailed seagulls. In the waters nearby are sharks, rays and lobsters.

You can visit vestiges of this hacienda, and also coffee plantations that remain to this day. The main attractions in the island are: the Interpretation Center; Ochoa Beach, Playa Man, Pitt Pint, El Junco lagoon (the only fresh water lagoon in the archipelago) and the Lobos Island.

You will be surprised by the presence of sea lions in town. A highlight when visiting this island is a tour to Kicker Rock, a stunning rock formation surrounded by abundant sea life (especially sharks). On the same trip you can visit the beautiful Cerro Brujo beach.