Fauna abundance
Striking vistas
Beach quality
Difficulty
Snorkeling Quality
Overview
Sited on the northwest coast of Santiago Island, Buccaneer Cove wasn't named as a romantic fancy, but because it actually was used extensively by pirates, privateers, buccaneers and whalers to set anchor and head ashore.
Of all the Galapagos Islands, Santiago was most frequently used as a stop over as it provided easy access to fresh water, wood, and meat. Used since the 1600s as a staging point, the easy-to-catch Giant Tortoises that lived here became a useful source of protein for the sailors. There was a more strenuous journey required up to the highlands in search of water, but the sheltered cove made this a better location than some of the more open coast elsewhere.
Today the steep cliffs above the cove are filled with nesting seabirds, wheeling in the air above the deep red sands of the beach. This is a good site for snorkeling or to stroll along the beach drinking in the sights and sounds of the Galapagos, and you will often find yourself sharing the sand and rocks with sea lions or Galapagos Fur Seals.
Photos of Buccaneer Cove
Highlights at Buccaneer Cove
- A real "pirate" cove
- Thousands of seabirds around the cliffs above
- Snorkeling from the beach
Possible Activities
Snorkel, Panga ride, Kayaking
Animals
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Galapagos Frigatebirds
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Blue-Footed Booby
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Galapagos Sea Lion
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Galapagos Marine Iguana
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Darwin's Finches
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Galapagos Hawk
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Galapagos Mockingbird
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Nazca Booby
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Galapagos Green Turtle
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Galapagos Fur Seal
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Galapagos Sting Rays
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Galapagos Dove
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Galapagos Shearwater
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Galapagos Petrel
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Galapagos Lava Gull
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Brown Pelican
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Great Blue Heron
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Galapagos Lava Heron
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron
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