Fernandina Island – Galapagos

Fernandina Island

One of the most pristine and untouched islands in the world. No foreign species has ever invaded Fernandina. The youngest and most volcanically active of the Galapagos Islands, Fernandina is located over the birthplace of all the Galapagos Islands, the geologic ‘hotspot’ where the Nazca, Cocos and South America tectonic plates grind into one another. Approximately 100,000 years old, a baby in geological terms, its constant state of volcanic change with eruptions occurring every 3-5 years which gives Fernandina a unique feeling. Home to a large colony of marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins and is the only place that you will see the endemic flightless Cormorant, drying their vestigial wings (or what used to be wings).

Punta Espinosa

Punta Espinosa, is a truly spectacular visitor site and a real highlight for any visitor to the Galapagos. A narrow strip of land extending out from the base of the Fernandina Volcano, it is home to the largest colonies of Marine Iguanas in the Galapagos. You will also have the chance to see Flightless Cormorants here, sea lions, and Galapagos Hawks often perch on the mangrove trees looking for prey. Along the coast, tidal pools provide a perfect environment for invertebrates and shorebirds, such as oystercatchers, plovers, turnstones and whimbrels. (** this was the scene of the famous Racer Snakes chasing the baby Marine Iguanas on the BBC’s Planet Earth 2 series)

Mangrove Point

This visitor site affords a great opportunity to see the Galapagos Hawk and one of the rarities that evolution has produced in the islands: The Flightless Cormorant.