Baltra Island – Galapagos

Baltra Island

This is probably the first part of Galapagos that most visitors see. It is where the main airport is located built during WWII by the U.S. government. Also known as South Seymour, it is a small, low, flat island uplifted from the see tens of thousands of years ago. It has an area of 17 square miles and a maximum altitude of 330 feet. It is a very arid island, with several species of Cacti, Palo Verde and Palo Santo trees.

The island is under the control of the Ecuadorean air force who maintain a small garrison of soldiers here. Petrocommercial (part of the state owned oil company) maintains a fuel supply depot here and a landing wharf which is what most visitors use to board their yachts. Little wildlife of note, though some land iguanas have been repatriated here by the Galapagos National Park, though it is unlikely you will see these.