With an area of 381 square miles, Santa Cruz is the second-largest island in the Galápagos archipelago and has a maximum altitude of 2,835 feet. Due to the altitude, the highlands of Santa Cruz provide you with a nice break from the ocean and marine life. Admire this unique habitat with Galápagos tortoises, Darwin’s finches, and many other unique animals that call this place home. If you are an avid birdwatcher, the highlands offer a great chance to identify more than eight species of finches, some warblers, and, of course, the elusive vermilion flycatcher.