Playa Santiago

The town of Playa Santiago was originally a small fishing village and experienced its first boom at the beginning of the 20th century through the extensive cultivation of agricultural products such as bananas and tomatoes, which also led to the expansion of local industry and infrastructure with canning factories and ports. With the decline of agriculture, a reorientation towards tourism took place in the 1990s.

There is a sandy and pebble beach. At the other end of the harbor there is a row of shops. The actual town center lies between the mountains. A hiking trail leads from the town over the ridge above the harbor.

The rock face offers a good nesting and breeding opportunity for numerous seabirds found on the island, especially the yellow-billed shearwater, whose calls sound like the cries of babies, as well as terns and bald eagles. Dolphins are occasionally spotted off the coast.

It is a rather inconspicuous place, but because it is on the south coast, it is spared from the trade winds and is therefore still good for swimming in winter, as the waves are not too big. However, because of its location, it is also very dry.Read more