This nature walk takes you to a part of Santa Cruz where you can see some of the wildlife that’s unique to the Galápagos. You’ll cover beaches, lagoons, and the blustery coast of Santa Cruz Island.

Your tour begins with a 35-minute walk near the outskirts of Puerto Ayora, through an arid Palo Santo forest. Palo Santo has fragrant wood that is prized for its warm, subtle fragrance when burned. This forest also has prickly pear and candelabra cacti — the scenery makes a fascinating backdrop for bird watching.

Next, you’ll continue to the beach. As you walk along the beach, you’ll eventually come to a shielded lagoon where you can swim and snorkel. Nearby, you can walk the rocky stretch between Tortuga Bay Beach and Playa Mansa, an area where you can look for wildlife like marine iguanas, brown pelicans, and blue-footed boobies. If you want, you can rent a kayak to explore farther from the shore, for the chance to see white tip sharks, eagle rays, and golden rays.

Note: The main beach here is not suitable for swimming because of strong currents. The water near Tortuga Bay Beach is rough and has a strong undertow. Visitors are not allowed to climb on the sand dunes that surround the beach.