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. Santa Cruz is located a short ride away from the main airport on Baltra island. This central location is what makes Santa Cruz the largest town with a population of about 4000. This large island is home to many hotels, restaurants, shops, and much more. Santa Cruz also hosts one of the most amazing beaches in the Galapagos, Tortuga Bay. 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 beautiful forests found on Santa Cruz are home to many species of Darwin's tree finches. Due to the island's old age, there is quite a variety of when it comes to the landscape and terrain. You can observe many volcanic formations on the younger areas of Santa Cruz such as the "Twins" (Los Gemelos), two deep craters deep in the heart of the forest. Travelers often trek into the Scalesia Forest, a common bird watching area, where they can hike over giant lava tubes. The north shore of Santa Cruz, accessible only by sea, is covered in extensive mangroves. This large lagoon, Black Turtle Beach, is a peaceful area in which visitors can observe turtles, fish, rays, and small sharks. Santa Cruz island is also home to the Charles Darwin Station and Galapagos Park Service. The Darwin Station is located in Puerto Ayora among plenty of shops and restaurants. A shore excursion to South Plaza offers visitors the chance to see a variety of interesting animals and vegetation. This unique array of flora and fauna make the trip to South Plaza one of the most beautiful shore trips to take on your journey in the Galapagos. Gordon Rocks, a formation made up of a large volcanic crater, is another highlight on the island of Santa Cruz. Large groups of spotted eagle rays, hammerheads, and Galapagos shark are very common in this area. The north shore of Santa Cruiz hosts Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). This area is accessible only by sea due to the fact that it is covered in extensive mangroves.