This is one of the islands with the most interesting human history and one of the first to be inhabited.

The island of Floreana is named after the first president of Ecuador, Juan José Flores. During his government, Ecuador took possession of the Galapagos archipelago.

It is also called Santa María due to one of Christopher Columbus's caravels. It has an area of 173 km2 and a maximum altitude of 640 meters.

This is one of the islands with the most interesting human history and one of the first to be inhabited.

Pink flamingos and green sea turtle nests are found on this island.

There is also here, a night owl that spends most of its life far from land.

It was the first island to be occupied for living in the Galapagos Islands.

The history of this island is very exciting because it includes a mystery in the death of some residents that has not yet been solved.

If you are interested in the whole story, you can read the book "Floreana" by Margaret Wittmer. She lived on Floreana for over 60 years and died at the age of 95 in 2000. Her descendants manage a hotel on the island to this day.

FLorena's wolves

The Floreana Island sea lion colony is a rocky formation with white sand, arid vegetation at the end and a sandy bottom water inlet that crosses the entrance to the sea lion colony, separating it from the rest of the island at high tide.

black beach

It is characterized by its dark-colored sand, which is why it is also known as Bahía Playa Prieta, it is surrounded by rock formations where underwater life abounds.

Post Office BayOn the north coast is Bahía Post Office. In the early 1800s, whalers began to leave their mail in a barrel and take letters from other sailors heading to their destination. This tradition is still practiced by tourists (of course the barrel is no longer the original). The idea is to take the letters or postcards to their destination manually. In addition to being the post office, this was the landing site for some of the first settlers.

cormorant point

Punta Cormorant is a light green beach (due to the olivine crystals) located between two tuff cones, a colony of sea lions. The trail (100 me) ascends to a lagoon that is popular with famingos. Usually you can see a few dozen flamingos there, as well as oystercatchers, Sandpipers, Curlews, Teros Reales, Patillos.

It is also advisable to look at the sky because the Galapagos hawks hover over the lagoon. The trail crosses the isthmus to a beautiful and incredible white sand beach where you can go swimming. White-tipped sharks and rays are common here, shuffling when walking in the water. From December to March the green sea turtles of the Pacific use this place to dig their eggs.

devil crown

One of the most wonderful places to snorkel is Corona del Diablo, a semi-submerged volcanic crater. The interior is sandy and protected from the waves, outside the currents can be very strong. There are some tunnels under the water to be explored. The area is home to lots of colorful fish, sea turtles and sometimes you can also find sharks. For divers and swimmers, this opportunity is not to be missed!

Exploring the upper part of Floreana

Allieri Hill

The Allieri hill is located to the east of Puerto Velasco Ibarra on Floreana Island, it reaches an altitude of 340 meters above sea level, its trails are ideal for hiking, photography and filming.

Haven of Peace

3 tourist attractions draw the attention of tourists interested, some in pirate stories; others in the natural richness of the water springs; and others in the conservation of the giant Galapagos tortoises.

straw hill

The highest on Floreana Island with 640 meters above sea level, its shape is concave due to the existence of an inactive crater at its base. In it you can see the Hawaiian petrel, which is one of the six endemic seabirds of the archipelago

semi-natural galapago

In it you can see giant tortoises from other Galapagos islands, introduced for the purpose of recovering a species similar to the one existing on this island, considered extinct 150 years ago.

Baroness viewpoint

The Mirador de la Baronesa is a wonderful place and reveals the charm of the Floreana Galapagos, it is located in the north of the island. Her name is due to a particular story about a baroness and her romances with three individuals, and the tragic murder of the baroness.

Baroness residence

This site was where Eloise Wagner de Bousquet (1932) lived, who came to Floreana with the purpose of appropriating the entire island and turning it into a destination for millionaire sailors.