Santiago

Located to the northwest of Santa Cruz, several cruise ships include visiting Santiago Island on their itineraries. It's not as popular as other islands for day visits from Santa Cruz. However, regardless of how you arrive, you should make it a point to include it on your list of islands to visit while in the Galapagos. It includes informative geology lessons and information about the archipelago's volcanic origins, as well as an abundance of wildlife sightings and excellent snorkeling.

Santiago Island is also known as San Salvador or James Island, after the first island found in the Caribbean Sea by Columbus. Its name is the English equivalent of Saint James. The island, which is made up of two overlapping volcanoes, is 585 square kilometers (226 square miles) in size and reaches a maximum altitude of 907 meters (2976 feet) at the summit of the northern shield volcano.

Santiago Island is the largest Cape Verde island; it’s where half the country’s residents live. The country's capital, Praia, is located on this island, which was the first to be colonized. The island is home to several endangered species, including 38 plants and numerous unique birds. The island's geography is diverse, with mountains, verdant valleys, sandy beaches (Praia Prainha being the best), and the country's largest and oldest tree, the 500-year-old kapok. The Mercado de Sucupira in Praia is a great place to go shopping for a variety of items, including handicrafts and local delicacies.

Location: Santiago, Portuguese Ilha de São Tiago, in the Atlantic Ocean.