Orbis Operadora: San Cristobal Island, Galapagos Islands

San Cristobal Island, Galapagos Islands Ecuador

San Cristobal (Chatham) is the furthest east island in the Galápagos chain, as well as one of the oldest in terms of geology. It is administratively a part of San Cristobal Canton, Ecuador. Its Spanish (and official Ecuadorian) name "San Cristobal" is derived from the patron saint of sailors, St. Christopher. English speakers are increasingly using this name instead of the traditional English name of Chatham Island, which comes from William Pitt, the 1st Earl of Chatham. San Cristobal Island is made up of three or four merged volcanoes, all of which are extinct. It is home to the oldest permanent settlement of the islands and is the island where Darwin first landed in 1835. A small lake named El Junco is the only source of fresh water on the islands. The presence of fresh water is what led to the early settlement of San Cristobal. A prison colony was established on San Cristobal Island in 1880 for prisoners from mainland Ecuador. This later became a military base for Ecuador and a export hub for the island's products including sugar, coffee, cassava, cattle, fish and lime.

Recommended airport

San Cristóbal Airport (SCY)

Nearby destinations