Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago [following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz]. With the exception of some of the large western volcanos of Isabela and Fernandina, it is the also most volcanically active, with many young flows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. These may even be seen from the summit of Volcan Darwin and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanos: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end. Suble differences in lava chemistry confirm that there are two volcanos here, and indicate that each has its own plumbing system and each taps a different melting zone in the mantle. The shield reaches an elevation of 900 m [2975 feet] in an area north and west of the center of the island. The northwest highlands also appear to be the oldest part of the island. Lavas from Santiago are as old as 750,000 years, based on K-Ar dating. Elevations on the southeast part of the island do not exceed 250 m [800 ft].
A particularly interesting large, young pahoehoe flow may be seen at James Bay in the northwest, a common tourist stop.
The young volcanic terrain in the area of Sullivan Bay , at the southeast end of the island, is particularly spectacular. The vista is dominated by the large palagonite cone known as Cerro Inn. Young volcanic features may also be seen on Bartolome Island, just off shore and a common stop for tour boats. The skyline of Bartolome is dominated by a large pinnacle-shaped rock.
As is the case in many places in the Galapagos, life is abundant near the shore. Lava lizards are common on many parts of Santiago, as well as the other islands. Marine iguanas and the brilliant sally light-foot crabs are, of course, present, along with the more unusual Galapagos penquin, blue-footed boobies, and the lava heron. Vegetation in the interior of the island has unfortunately been decimated by feral goats, estimated to number as many as 50,000 or more.

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Places to visit
Puerto Egas in James Bay
San Salvador is a popular destination for cruise boats and there are four sites where visitors are allowed to land. The most impressive is the black sand and lava shoreline of Puerto Egas in James Bay on the west coast, with its eroded rock formations, caves and inlets which are home to a variety of wildlife including fur seals and a large colony of marine iguanas. Rock pools in the area known as Grottoes abound with hermit crabs, anemones and tiny fish that are a feast for herons, oystercatchers and other seabirds.

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Playa Espumilla
Energetic hikers can take a rocky, two-kilometer [just over a mile] trail from Puerto Egas to the peak of Sugarloaf Volcano for a magnificent view of the island. A less demanding hike goes to the crater with the old salt mine. The Puerto Egas site was temporarily closed in 1995 because of damage caused by too much foot traffic. At the north end of James Bay, best reached by boat, is Playa Espumilla [Foam Beach] where the swimming is good and the sand is golden.

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Buccaneer Cove
Beautiful Buccaneer Cove, further northwards along the coast from James Bay, was a popular haven for pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries. On the red beach below the dramatic palisade of cliffs the mariners tilted the hulls of their boats. In search of food supplies, they hunted for giant tortoises and the island’s now-extinct land iguanas. Today, Buccaneer Cove is better known for its sea lions, seabirds and snorkeling.

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Sullivan Bay
Instead of a sandy beach, Sullivan Bay, on the eastern tip of San Salvador, boasts a wide moonscape of solid black lava, which might be the most extraordinary coastline you will ever see. In the middle of this enormous field of ropy lava formations are two imposing tuff cones, rocks which were surrounded by the flow of molten lava about a hundred years ago.

|Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton|||

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