Daphne

One of the central islands, Daphne lays north of Santa Cruz and west of Baltra. There are actually two islands Daphne Major and Daphne Minor. Daphne Major is the younger of the two and the one that is visited.

Though its location is easily in reach for most cruises, it is a select few that are able to visit this special place. The National Park Service restricts visitors allowed to visit Daphne. It is only by special permit that boats are allowed to sail close enough to view the wildlife on Daphne.

Though tourists may not spend much time on Daphne, but that is not true of scientists.  Daphne has been the site of a major scientific research project and was the setting for the book The Beak of the Finch.  Scientists have captured and banded each of the island's finches, monitoring the birds in an attempt to earn a greater understanding of their lives. Visitors who do gain permission to go a shore venture up a steep trail to the crater rim. Finches, Masked Boobies, Short Eared Owls and Galapagos Martins are visible along the way.

Nearing the summit Red-Billed Tropicbirds nest in the cliffs. These elegant birds with long white tail feathers and a coral-red bill, nest in the over hanging ledges and crevices of the steep slopes. Magnificent Frigatebirds build their nests in the little vegetation that occurs on the islands slopes and near the crater rim. On the floor of the crater Blue-Footed Boobies make their nests between April and December. The presence of these sea birds makes Daphne an exceptional island to visit. A place where thousands of birds can be seen soaring overhead.