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.
Fernandina Island Size: 642 square kilometres
Fernandina Island Population: 0
Fernandina Island Max Altitude: 1476 metres above sea level
Fernandina Island Location
Fernandina Island is west of Isabela Island, the furthest from the mainland and one of the least visited of all the Galapagos Islands.
Fernandina Island Landscape
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.
Visiting Fernandina Island
There is just one visitor spot on the island, Punta Espinoza. After a dry landing you follow the sandy trails further inland watching the tenuous materials on the ground around you, punctuated, every now and then, by lava cactus – one of the few plants that can survive in this fascinating terrain.
Fernandina Island Wildlife
The harsh land conditions and lack of plant life has not, however, led to minimal wildlife. A visit here can mean seeing hundreds of marine iguanas as they gather on the black lava rocks and a wonderful sea lion nursery where you may come close to these unafraid mammals.
Land iguanas live here too but are rarely seen as they make their way from the rim of the volcano to the floor of the caldera where they nest; keep a lookout, you may get lucky! Fernandina is one of the few places in the world which has remained unaffected by introduced species. The lack of these pests or more aggressive, invasive animals or plants, has meant that species on the island, such as the endemic rice mouse, live here without fear of extinction any time soon.
Fernandina Island Tortoise
The Fernandina giant tortoise is native to Fernandina Island. For many years, the species was believed to be extinct, until a female tortoise was discovered on Fernandina Island in 2019. The species is still critically endangered, although the rediscovery of the Fernandina tortoise has provided hope for conservationists and highlighted the importance of continuous exploration and monitoring of remote habitats.
Fernandina Island Birds
Along the coast there is ample mangrove forest, attracting a myriad of bird species that can be spotted.
- Flightless Cormorant: Unique to the Galápagos, this bird has adapted to a flightless lifestyle, using its powerful legs to dive for fish.
- Galápagos Penguins: The only penguin species found north of the equator.
- Galápagos Hawk: The top predator on the islands, preying on insects, small animals, and carrion.
- Darwin’s Finches: Various species of finches observed by Charles Darwin, contributing to his theory of natural selection. Adaptations include different beak shapes suited to specific diets.
