Also known as Barrington Island, Isla Santa Fe is located some 20 km southeast of Isla Santa Cruz. Just 25 sq km in size, this tiny island has one of the most beautiful coves in the Galapagos, Barrington Bay. A popular destination for a day trip, Isla Santa Fe offers tourists many sights to see and much to look at. A two and a half hour boat ride from Isla Santa Cruz and a 3 hour boat trip from Isla San Cristobal, this tiny island is home to the endemic and rare Santa Fe land iguana.

Found nowhere else in the world, the Santa Fe land iguana is a unique species. Similar to other land iguanas found in the Galapagos, these iguanas are considered a separate class because of a few defining characteristics, as well as due to their isolation from other iguanas. With more prominent spines running down its back, the Santa Fe land iguana is a much lighter orange-yellow than the iguanas found on the other Galapagos Islands. It is not clear how this species of iguana has evolved, but it seems to be slowly dying out, as it is becoming rarer and rarer to spot a Santa Fe land iguana these days.

Found along a rough trail into the highlands of Santa Fe, these iguanas live among the endemic Prickly Pear or Opuntia Cacti found on the island. Growing here up to 10 meters tall, this cacti forest leads out along the coast to a cliff with some breathtaking views of Barrington Bay below. The Opuntia cactus is one of the largest trees in the Galapagos Islands. Other endemic species of wildlife found in the highlands are the Galapagos Hawk, the Galapagos rice rat, the Galapagos Mockingbird and a variety of finches.

Besides the iguanas, Isla Santa Fe is also known for its excellent snorkeling opportunities as well as its sea lion colonies along the beach. Home to many bird species that land and nest here, one can play with the fun loving sea lions as they snorkel along the bay or go for a lovely hike along the shore. Since this area is a wet landing, most boats anchor out in the bay and take visitors ashore by panga.

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