Best Plaza Islands - South Plaza & North Plaza Islands Guide for 2025-2026

4 Best South Plaza Island Tour Ideas for 2025-2026

Western Islands

This cruise to the Western Islands of the Galapagos allows you to witness exciting and unique plants, animals, and landscapes. Swim, hike, and explore on this 8-day tour on the Aida Maria.

Island Circumnavigation

15-Day Galapagos Cruise
15 Days from $4,248

Travel around the Galapagos on this 15-day cruise. Learn about the plants and wildlife, swim in the Pacific Ocean, shop in Puerto Ayora, and visit the Charles Darwin Station on your trip aboard the Aida Maria.

Top 10 South Plaza Island Luxury Tour Ideas for 2025-2026

Trip Name	From	Days	Summary
Eastern Islands	$5,870	5	Introduce yourself to the Galapagos by taking a 5-day cruise to the Eastern Islands. This quick tour aboard the La Pinta features sea lions, red-footed boobies, and giant tortoises. 0
Private Charter - Eastern Islands Aboard La Pinta	$287,358	5	Familiarize yourself with the Galapagos Eastern Islands on a private cruise aboard La Pinta. This 5-day voyage takes you to the islands of San Cristobal, Espanola, and Santa Cruz Island. Swim with playful sea lions, take coastal and inland hikes, and admire the famous giant tortoises and red-footed boobies. 0
Central East Islands	$8,604	5	Set sail on a 5-day cruise from Baltra to San Cristobal aboard Hermes Ultra Luxury Cruise in the Central East Galapagos Islands. Explore Santa Cruz's highlands and lava tunnels, Rábida's red sand beach, Bartolomé's volcanic panoramas, and South Plaza's land iguanas. Discover more flora and fauna while enjoying up-close wildlife encounters. 0
Private Charter - Southern Galapagos Journey	$85,450	6	Embark on a 6-day private Galápagos cruise aboard the Galapagos Sea Star. Explore the southern islands’ stunning landscapes and encounter iconic wildlife, from giant tortoises to blue-footed boobies and sea lions. 0
Western Islands	$8,490	6	Experience Galapagos penguins, Elizabeth Bay, and more on a cruise through the Western Islands. Enjoy hiking, snorkeling, and dinghy rides on this 6-day Galapagos tour aboard Grand Ocean Spray. 0
Southern Galapagos Journey	$5,706	6	Experience the Galápagos Islands on a 6-day voyage aboard the Galapagos Sea Star, exploring San Cristobal, Española, Floreana, Santa Fe, and North Seymour. Encounter giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and vibrant marine life while hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking across diverse islands. 0
Private Charter - Beyond Darwin's Footsteps Aboard Grace	$95,150	8	Close encounters with nature highlight this 8-day private Galapagos cruise onboard the Grace. The islands are teeming with animals that are eager to meet visitors. Explore Espanola, Floreana, Santa Cruz, and other nearby cities! Scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking are all popular pastimes in this area. 0
Central East & Southern Islands	$13,644	8	Explore Central East & Southern Islands on this 8-day cruise aboard Hermes Ultra Luxury Cruise. Visit Baltra and meet giant tortoises. Enjoy geological wonders and encounter diverse wildlife on Rábida, Bartolomé, South Plaza, and Santa Fe. End at Fausto Llerena Breeding Center to see Galápagos tortoises and support conservation efforts. 0
Beyond Darwin's Footsteps	$10,450	8	This 8-day adventure aboard Grace offers close encounters with wildlife. The islands are full of creatures that love to interact with visitors. Travel around Espanola, Floreana, Santa Cruz and more! Enjoy snorkeling, swimming and kayaking in the crystalline waters of this area. 0
Southern Islands	$6,190	5	Sail through the Southern Galapagos Islands, exploring their biodiverse and magical landscapes. Starting in Baltra making your way through Española, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, South Plaza and back to Balta. 0

South Plaza Island Facts and Highlights

South Plaza is one of the smallest islands on the Galapagos archipelago, located off the east coast of Santa Cruz Island. Here are more facts about it:

South Plaza is home to a variety of unique wildlife, including the famous Galapagos land iguana and the hybrid iguana, a result of cross-breeding between land and marine iguanas.
Visitors to South Plaza can also see a variety of bird species, including the swallow-tailed gull, red-billed tropicbird, Nazca booby, and blue-footed booby.
The island's rocky terrain and steep cliffs provide a unique opportunity for hiking and exploring, with stunning views of the surrounding ocean and nearby islands.
South Plaza's rugged terrain is covered withGalapagos Carpetweed or Sesuvium. During the rainy season the carpet is a vibrant green, while in the dry season its change to a bright red, orange and purple tones. This eye-catching landscape is a favorite amongst photography aficionados.
There are two Plazas islands in Galapagos, North and South. Both are crescent shaped land masses and formed by volcanic uplift of the ocean floor rather than volcanic eruption.
Of the two Plazas, only South Plaza can be visited by tourists. North Plaza is reserved for scientific and conservation purposes.
South Plaza is also home to a variety of cactus species, including the iconic prickly pear cactus or Opuntia cactus, the main food source for the island's land iguana population.
The waters surrounding the island hold a variety of underwater life, such as sea lions, reef sharks, and a variety of fish species.
South Plaza was hystorically used as a base for pirates and whaling expeditions that sailed the Pacific Ocean.