South Plaza Island

Coastal Landing

Arriving by dinghy, you step ashore onto a small dock often occupied by Galapagos sea lions. Curious juveniles lounge across the landing area while dominant males patrol nearby territories.

The trail begins immediately, passing through a dry, open landscape scattered with cactus and low shrubs.

Land Iguanas

South Plaza is home to a large population of Galapagos land iguanas. These yellow-brown reptiles are commonly seen basking in the sun or feeding on fallen cactus pads.

Marine iguanas also inhabit the island, and it is here that one of the Galapagos’ rarest curiosities has occasionally been documented: the hybrid iguana, the result of interbreeding between land and marine iguanas.

First recorded in 1977 by Professor Howard Snell, hybrids are sterile and uncommon, making sightings exceptionally rare. South Plaza remains the only island in the Galapagos where hybrid iguanas have been discovered.

The Sesuvium Carpet

One of South Plaza’s most distinctive features is its vegetation. Much of the island is covered in Sesuvium (Sesuvium edmonstonei), also known as Galapagos carpetweed.

During wetter months it appears bright green, but in the dry season chlorophyll levels decrease, and protective red and purple pigments become more visible. The result is a dramatic carpet of oranges and reds that contrast against the grey lava rock and green cacti.

Opuntia Cacti

Also known as the giant prickly pear cactus, its large pads and fruit provide shelter and food for the island’s land iguanas and nesting birds.

Opuntia may flower at any time of year and its bright yellow flowers are an important source of nectar for insects.

Fallen Opuntia

If you come across any fallen Opuntia, take a closer look. Its trunk is built from layered, honeycomb-like fibres, and the pads reveal beautifully structured internal patterns.

Clifftop “Wailing Wall”

The trail gradually ascends to the island’s highest point, approximately 23 metres above sea level, where sheer cliffs drop into the ocean below.

This exposed viewpoint is sometimes referred to as the “wailing wall” due to the sound of wind and seabirds echoing along the cliffs. Swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds nest here, taking advantage of the updrafts rising from the waves below.

Sea Lions

At the eastern end of the island, bachelor sea lions congregate near the cliff edges, resting between challenges for breeding territories elsewhere.

Snorkelling

Visits to South Plaza are typically paired with a snorkelling stop nearby.

The surrounding waters are home to rays, reef fish, sea turtles and occasionally reef sharks. Playful sea lions may approach swimmers, while marine iguanas can sometimes be seen feeding underwater.