Short answer: South Plaza is a small uplifted island off the east coast of Santa Cruz. A circular trail through prickly pear cactus and sesuvium climbs to a 25 m cliff full of nesting seabirds, past land iguanas, marine iguanas and a big sea lion colony. Day tours from Puerto Ayora take about 8 hours and start from about $479 per person.
- LocationOff the east coast of Santa Cruz
- FromSanta Cruz, about 8 hours
- TrailCircular, up to a 25 m cliff
- North PlazaClosed to visitors
What you will see
Much of the island is covered in sesuvium, a succulent that is green to yellow in the wet season and bright red in the dry season, under a forest of large prickly pear cactus. The trail leads up to the cliff on the south side, where swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, Audubon's shearwaters and Nazca boobies nest. Now and then a hybrid iguana turns up, the offspring of a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.
Galápagos land iguana
Among the smallest land iguanas in the islands, feeding on the cactus.
Galápagos sea lion
A large colony along the shore.
Marine iguana
Numerous on the rocks; hybrids with land iguanas turn up now and then.
Nazca booby
Nests on the southern cliffs with tropicbirds and gulls.
How to get there and what it costs
South Plaza is visited on a day boat tour from Puerto Ayora with a naturalist guide; the listing below combines it with Punta Carrión on Santa Cruz.
Its twin, North Plaza, is closed to visitors.
Tours that go to South Plaza start from about $479 per person (1 listing compared below). The national park entrance fee is paid once, on arrival in the islands: entrance fee and entry rules.
Best time to visit South Plaza
For the red carpet of sesuvium, go in the dry season, roughly June to November. The iguanas and sea lions are there all year, and sea lion pups are about from roughly August to January.
- Aug to Jan Sea lion pupping season (pups present year-round)All islands; Playa Baquerizo / La Lobería (San Cristóbal), North Seymour, Mosquera
Weather, sea temperature and wildlife for every month: month-by-month guide.
Tours that go to South Plaza
South Plazas & Punta Carrión Wildlife Day Tour
Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
Compare every day trip on all islands: day-tour finder.
See South Plaza on the 3D map →
Nearby: more visitor sites from Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz island guide · All visitor sites · Itinerary planner · Ferry board
Questions about South Plaza
Why is South Plaza red?
The ground is covered in sesuvium, a succulent plant that is green to yellow in the wet season and turns bright red in the dry season.
Can you visit North Plaza?
No. North Plaza is closed to visitors; South Plaza is the one with the visitor trail.
How do you get to South Plaza?
On a day boat tour from Puerto Ayora with a naturalist guide, about 8 hours, from about $479 per person.
Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Galápagos Conservancy. More numbers:facts and figures.
Updated 2026-11-07. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.