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Visitors to SANTA FE , about 25km southeast of Puerto Ayora, disembark for a wet landing on the northeastern side of the island, at a stunning cove with brilliant-blue water and white sand that's protected by a partly submerged peninsula. The bay is good for swimming - though give the bull sea lions here a wide berth - and snorkelling may yield up spotted eagle-and stingrays, white-tipped reef sharks and a number of colourful reef fish. There are two trails. The first is short and easy, circling through a forest of giant Opuntia cacti (a variety found only on the island), many reaching 10m in height with trunks 4m in circumference. The second is more strenuous, heading up a steep hill which affords spectacular views of the island. On both, you have a fair chance of seeing a species of land iguana unique to Santa Fe, having a paler colour and longer spines on its back than its counterparts on the other islands. You might also be lucky enough to see one of the three surviving endemic species of rice rat rustling in the scrub - unlike on Fernandina, the only other island where they are found, this species often appears in the daytime. This is a good island to spot several other endemic species, including the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos dove and Galapagos snake .
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