Santa Cruz, the most frequently visited island in the archipelago, hosts one of the largest human populations of the five inhabited islands of the Galapagos. This island is often the starting point for an exciting Galapagos adventure. The landscape of Santa Cruz is very different from that of the other islands. The shores are lined with mangroves while the inland area consists of a forest dominated by palo santo trees and prickly pear cactus. The further inland one travels on this amazing island, the denser the flora becomes. The lush greenery of the Santa Cruz Highlands is a definite contrast with the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. A point of interest is the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. The trip to the highlands ends with a visit to the Twin Craters