Christmas Island is one of the world's truly spectacular tropical seabird rookeries. It's not just the number and variety of seabirds or their magnificent splendour that make the island so remarkable, but also their sheer visibility. Around 80,000 seabirds nest here annually, with 23 breeding or resident species. Birds can be seen and heard everywhere on the island, at just about any time of the day. With just a little effort, birdwatchers can easily tick off a full list of residents in a busy week or a more relaxed fortnight. However, the elusive Christmas Island hawk owl keeps many coming back. More than 100 vagrant and migratory bird species have been recorded here, including eight breeding seabird species and one subspecies. The most numerous is the wide-ranging red-footed booby, which nests in colonies in trees in many parts of the coastal shore terraces. You may see the endangered Christmas Island frigatebird soaring above Settlement — it's the world's rarest frigatebird and nests only on the island. The golden form of the white-tailed tropic bird is an endemic subspecies unique to Christmas Island. Known locally as the golden bosun bird, this stunning bird is graceful in flight and has been adopted as the island's fauna emblem.

One of the most impressive churches in Porto, Igreja de Santa Clara (Church of Santa Clara), started its construction in 1416, and it was completed in 1457. Its interior is Gothic, but in the 17th and 18th centuries, the temple was decorated in a Baroque style. The church nave is entirely covered in gilded woodcarving — a genuine feast for the eyes. From the church patio, it is possible to climb to one of the remains of the Fernandina Wall in the city.

Marineland Dolphin Adventure holds the distinction of being the world’s first oceanarium, opening its doors in 1938. This historic attraction has been captivating visitors for decades with its up-close experiences and educational programs. At Marineland, you can interact with dolphins through unique encounters, including swims and feeding sessions, or simply marvel at their intelligence and charm during demonstrations.