| This
is part of a pair of islands and one of the smallest to be visited.
Located
only a short distance from Santa Cruz, South Plaza has a unique
sesuvium and opuntia landscape which provides some of the most
interesting wildlife observation available in the Galapagos.
Visiting
South Plaza begins with a dry landing. The rocky trail circumnavigates
the island displaying the combination of dry and coastal vegetation
zone.
South
Plaza has one of the largest populations of Land Iguanas in
the Galapagos. The Iguanas seem to be everywhere once you land.
Also a large colony of noisy sea lions, numbering about 1,000
bulls, cows and pups, has its prime habitat on these smooth
rocks. The small cactus forest is populated by land iguanas,
which can be seen sunning themselves or feeding on opuntia
pads and fruits. Swallow-tailed gulls, which nest on the
rugged southern cliffs, are usually seen, along with tropicbirds
and Audubon´s shearwaters.
During
the rainy season you can see the red sesuvium turn bright
green and the leafless evening-blooming portulaca bursts
into large yellow flowers, which are loved by the iguanas. |
