If
you are one of the travelers looking for special, peculiar and
exciting experiences you will love to come to this little paradise,
called Genovesa Island, located north of the Galapagos Archipelago
which is also known as “the island of birds” due to the
large number of exotic birds that inhabit it. It is a small island
with just 14 km² and a maximum altitude of 76 meters, formed by the
remains of a large crater, which today is almost entirely submerged.
This fantastic place is considered by many of its visitors as the
favorite island and most impressive of the Galapagos.
Without a doubt, Genovesa has many unique features that make it one of the most interesting places to visit in the area. On the island are the fur seals, which surely came dragged by the Humboldt current and are the only ones of this type that live in tropical waters, a curious fact is that their name comes from the city of Genoa (Italy) where it is said which was the birthplace of Columbus.
Genovesa is an inactive volcano, which has suffered several landslides due to its volcanic activity. It has two visiting sites that can be accessed through a gap that exists at the foot of the volcano, making this hike an unparalleled experience.
The flora and fauna of the Genovesa Island:
The flora and fauna of the Genovesa Island, has a very interesting diversity of birds among mangrove forests that surrounds the place, and spaces are formed from where they make their nests. There is an immense plain of rock where you can see red-footed and masked boobies; the splendid frigates, beautiful swallow-Tailed Gulls, and the red-billed tropicbird.
About the spectacular birds of Genovesa:
Genovesa is the dream and the ideal place for ornithologists because of the abundant presence of birds on the island, highlighting some species such as Swallow-Tailed Gull or lava gulls, which are the only ones of their kind that have nocturnal hunting habits. You can find marine iguanas, fur seals and the large Palo Santo forest. In the center of Genovesa Island you can find the lake Arcturus, full of salt water, where the smallest marine iguana in the archipelago inhabits. Take into account that this is one of the best sites for bird watching in the Galapagos Islands and perhaps the only opportunity to get to know “face to face” the red-footed booby.
Genovesa attracts a large number of pelagic birds (from the ocean), they come to nest and reproduce on this island, among them: the big frigates, blue-footed boobies, tail gulls, tropical birds, pigeons, Darwin’s finches and the petrels.
Diving, snorkeling and fun in Genovesa Island:
The Genovesa Island also offers excellent opportunities for snorkeling and diving. The most popular places to visit are Darwin Bay and Lake Arcturus, located in the center of the island.
Another curious fact is that thousands of years ago Genovesa was an immense volcano whose south wall collapsed, forming the Great Darwin Bay, surrounded by cliffs, where currently some birds have their nests. In Darwin’s Bay you can dive along the inner wall or the outer wall. Another possibility of diving is from the outside of the volcano through the channel in the caldera.
There is also the possibility of taking a boat that frequently travels accompanied by sea lions.
Without a doubt, Genovesa is a fascinating place both geologically and biologically and it is also interesting that the chemical composition of its lava is virtually identical to the lavas that eructate from the volcanic mountain ranges of the middle of the ocean, which is quite different from the lavas from most island volcanoes. In the Fragata Yacht you can navigate, enjoy and explore the Genovesa Island, do not miss out on this unique opportunity and discover the wonders of the Galapagos Islands aboard our unforgettable cruise.
See our itinerary that includes Genovesa Island here
