4 Best South Plaza Island Tour Ideas for 2023-2024

San Cristobal Airport to Baltra
8 Days from $3,186

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 $5,998

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.

Eastern Islands

8 Days from $4,595

Swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises await you on this trip to the Eastern Galapagos Islands. Enjoy hiking, exploring tide pools, and searching for Galapagos penguins during your 8-day vacation aboard the Angelito.

Southern Islands

4 Days from $2,065

Explore the Southern Galapagos Islands on this 4-day cruise. Look for the Galapagos albatross, land iguanas, and sea lions. You also may see spotted eagle rays, golden rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and young Galapagos sharks. Enjoy exploring the islands and learning from your guides during your tour aboard the small ship Angelito.

Top 10 South Plaza Island Luxury Tour Ideas for 2023-2024

Trip Name	From	Days	Next Departure	Summary
Private Charter - Beyond Darwin's Footsteps Aboard Grace	$147000	8	Jun 13, 2023	Close encounters with nature highlight this 8-day private Galapagos cruise onboard the Grace. The islands are teeming with animals that are eager to … 0
Beyond Darwin's Footsteps	$8500	8	Jun 10, 2023	This 8-day adventure aboard Grace offers close encounters with wildlife. The islands are full of creatures that love to interact with visitors. … 0
Private Charter - Western Islands Aboard Ocean Spray	$88790	6	Jun 17, 2023	Experience Galapagos penguins, Elizabeth Bay, and more on a cruise through the Western Islands aboard Ocean Spray. Enjoy hiking, snorkeling and … 0
Private Charter - Islands Circumnavigation - West Aboard Ocean Spray	$118690	8	Jul 1, 2023	Circumnavigate the Western Islands of the Galapagos on this 8-day private charter cruise aboard the Ocean Spray. Explore striking volcanic landscapes … 0
Eastern Islands	$5643	5	Jun 15, 2023	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, … 0
Private Charter - Eastern Islands Aboard La Pinta	$250798	5	Jun 15, 2023	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 … 0
Beaches and Bays	$9250	8	Jun 4, 2023	Spend 8 days cruising the Southern Islands of the Galapagos and visiting a variety of islands such as San Cristobal, Española, Floreana, and Santa … 0
Eastern Islands	$6130	8	Oct 21, 2023	Witness sea turtles and giant tortoises in their natural habitat in the Eastern Islands aboard the M/Y Passion. Climb the wooden steps of Bartolome … 0
Galapagos Luxury Catamaran Cruise	$6945	5	Jun 24, 2023	This unique small ship adventure on the Cormorant II visits the Central Islands of the Galapagos. Over the course of 5 days, discover the unique … 0
Western Islands	$5949	6	Jun 17, 2023	Experience Galapagos penguins, Elizabeth Bay and more on a cruise through the Western Islands. Enjoy hiking, snorkeling and dinghy rides on this … 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.