This small island, just 24 sq km [just over nine square miles] and only 20 km [12 miles] southeast of Santa Cruz, home to a unique subspecies of land iguana which is bigger than its cousins on other islands of the archipelago, sometimes growing up to 120 cm [four feet] in length. These unfriendly-looking, cactus-guzzling reptiles with long tails, clawed feet, spiny dorsal crests and blood-shot eyes look like mythical creatures from the medieval traditions. There are two marked paths on the island. One is a steep trail of about one and a half kilometers [nearly a mile], which heads for the iguana colony in the highlands. The other is a short walk from the landing point to a stand of giant cactus. Popular with day visitors from Santa Cruz, the island includes a sea lion colony and a pleasant blue lagoon, though swimmers should keep an eye out for stingrays. Santa Fe’s unique subspecies of giant tortoise was exterminated about a hundred years ago by American and European whalers and sealers who hunted them for meat.