Having never been connected to a continent, the 17 Galapagos Islands, and many other rocky outcrops and islets, were formed over many hundreds of thousands of years between volcanic eruptions and the earth’s movement.
The wildlife that is now found on these young islands somehow migrated across the ocean from the Latin American mainland; it is thought this was mainly via floating bits of land, hence only the hardy, such as made it across – and, of course, the birds.
The Galapagos archipelago consists of 13 major islands, 6 smaller islands and scores of islets and rocks lying within reach of the equator.
Known to be the most pristine of the larger Galapagos Islands, the unique Fernandina Island is the youngest and most volcanically active island in the archipelago. The ever-changing landscapes caused by volcanic eruptions every few years keep the island scarce of vegetation, leaving it with a surreal, end-of-the-earth atmosphere. Fernandia’s numerous volcanic eruptions have led to a bizarre rocky landscape with lava fields bursting with cracks and fissures.
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Known as Tower Island, the small, outlying and relatively flat island of Genovesa is a haven for birds, earning itself the nickname ‘Bird Island’.
Being the northernmost of the Galapagos Islands, Genovesa is outlying and accessible mainly on longer itineraries, or those that specifically target the north. In our opinion, this is one of the most interesting and exciting islands and is well worth the trip out.
The sea-horse shaped island of Isabela is the largest of the Galapagos Islands and at only one million years of age, it is also one of the youngest. Thought by many to be the most beautiful, Isabela is home to the typical white-sandy beaches, palm trees, rocky islets and mangroves you would expect from a pacific island. Despite being the largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabela is one of the least visited as the main areas of interest are so far apart. Usually, it is only accessed by those on faster ships or on longer itineraries, stopping at Isabela on either side of a visit to Fernandina Island.
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The rugged Pinta Island is the northernmost of the main Galapagos group. Named Abingdon Island by the English, after the Earl of Abingdon, Pinta Island has no visitor sites, it does have some landing sites, however a special permit is required from the Galapagos National Park authority to go ashore.
Pinta Island is a shield volcano with numerous young lava flows and fissures, its landscapes relatively arid and dry.
How to Get to Pinta Island
Unfortunately, Pinta Island cannot be visited on a normal Galapagos Island cruise, but it is worth mentioning for its most famous resident, Lonesome George, the last ever Pinta tortoise.
One of the most volcanically diverse islands of the Galapagos with some fantastic wildlife opportunities. Geologically, eroded hills and lava erupting from spatter cones have created a strikingly coloured landscape, and your first landing on Rabida will lead you to a deep maroon coloured beach to the north of the island.
A walk up the rugged red cliffs to a cliff overhang will give those interested in the geography of the island a better view of the cove below, the lagoon and the surrounding scarlet cliffs before heading back to the beach for some last-minute snorkeling before continuing your adventure.
The easternmost and one of the geographically oldest islands of the Galapagos Archipelago, San Cristobal Island, or Chatham Island, is also host to the capital of the Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and is a popular stop on most of the Galapagos cruises. Despite the popularity of the island, and the infrastructure which has been built to accommodate tourists, the island still boasts some breathtaking scenery and wildlife.
Eroded Volcanic peaks in the North of the island, and lush vegetation in the South combine to create yet another unique landscape of these diverse and fascinating islands. A lot of the main attractions of the island are to be found in the Southwestern tip of the island, near the provincial capital of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Santa Cruz is the second largest of the Galapagos Islands, after Isabela, and the centre for tourism. Here you find the Galapagos Islands National Park Headquarters and the Charles Darwin Research Station, and its close proximity to Baltra means it is easily accessible to anyone visiting the archipelago. Nearly every bird found within the archipelago has been spotted here.
The island has a strange geology, comprised of two parts, the older 10 mile strip of land formed of uplifted submarine lava flows and the newer, larger part formed by volcanic cones and basaltic lavas. Then there are the twin craters of Los Gemelos, sinkholes surrounded by Scalesia forest. Each of the Galapagos ‘life zones’ are present on Isla Santa Cruz resulting in some fantastic wildlife, especially birds.
Claimed by scientists to be the oldest of the islands, the unique island of Santa Fe was formed by an uplift rather than a volcanic eruption, resulting in a relatively flat landscape instead of the typical conical shape of most other islands of the archipelago.
You will begin your visit to Santa Fe Island with a Panga ride into a beautiful turquoise lagoon where you will be greeted by a colony of Galapagos sea lions, basking in the sun and showing off.
Santiago Island is popular on Galapagos expeditions for those close encounters with the un-fearing wildlife. The island has a volcanic landscape, with cliffs and pinnacles attracting quite a few species of marine bird. A stop here offers the chance to swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters with the Galapagos fur seal, the world's smallest fur seal.
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Bartolome Island is perhaps the most recognised, most visited and most photographed of the Galapagos Islands. It is most famous for Pinnacle Rock, a towering spear-headed obelisk jutting out of the ocean – arguably the best-known landmark throughout the entire Galapagos National Park.
Named after lifelong friend of Charles Darwin, naturalist Sir Bartholomew James Sullivan, this islet consists of an extinct volcano and a stunning mixture of red, orange, green and black volcanic formations. The origins of the islet vary, some with fresh lava and spatter cones, others made from eroded tuff formations. Most of the island's vegetation is hardy pioneer plants, usually the first plants to appear after an ecosystem is damaged, however between the islands two beaches there is a distinct change to more luscious green halophytes.
The Galapagos’ most southern island, named Hood Island by the English, is considered, to be one of the oldest of the Galapagos Islands at 4 million years of age. It is thought that Espanola Island was formed when lavas were extruded beneath the water’s surface, later uplifting to form an island. The terrain is relatively flat with a few hills and vegetation is rather arid, consisting mainly of thorny plants.
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Floreana Island bears a unique personality where its history has become the main attraction, even more than the lava fields, boobies and azure waters. Floreana Island is situated towards the southern part of the Galápagos Archipelago. It lies southwest of Santa Cruz Island and southeast of Isabela Island
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