Rábida Island is in the center of the Galápagos archipelago and about three miles south of Santiago Island. Isla Rábida is small – less than two square miles – and uninhabited except for a thrilling array of land and sea birds plus marine life. The islet’s namesake is the Friary of La Rábida in Palos de la Frontera, Spain. Christopher Columbus stayed at this Franciscan monastery from 1490 until 1492 before his first voyage. It is also called Jervis Island in honor of John Jervis, a former admiral in the UK’s Royal Navy. To prepare for arriving passengers, this crewmember is headed toward the beach near the island’s 1,204 foot peak, a former cinder cone.
