You are in the perfect place to find out what you can do in Fernandina Island this 2024, but first we will tell you a couple of curious facts you should know before visiting it, in itself, the island does not present much life and has instead a somewhat gray environment for its volcanic origin, tourists are taken only to the foothills of the crater for safety reasons.
It adopted its name in honor of King Ferdinand of Spain, the person who sponsored the voyage of Christopher Columbus. It is the third largest island, the youngest and western of the Galapagos archipelago. The island itself is a layer of the active volcano, it was formed by the Galapagos hot spot.
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Fernandina Island Highlights
volcanic landscape
The Fernandina Island has a landscape characterized by its recent volcanic origin. One of its highlights is the volcano “La Cumbre”, an active volcano whose last major eruption occurred in 2009. This island is a fascinating place to observe geological activity and the formation of new land.
Wild life
As a relatively pristine and less visited island compared to others in the Galapagos, wildlife on Fernandina is abundant and diverse. It is known for being home to a large population of marine iguanas, which are the only iguanas that feed in the sea and are exclusive to the Galapagos Islands.
Birdwatching
Fernandina is also a prime location for bird watching, and several endemic and native species can be found, such as flightless cormorants and Darwin's finches.
Tourist access
Due to the preservation and conservation of the islands, access to Fernandina Island is restricted to reduce disturbance to the ecosystem. Visitors usually arrive on cruise ships or organized tourist boats, and stops on the island are regulated by the authorities of the Galapagos National Park.
In general, the best recommendations for visiting Fernandina Island talk about doing it on a cruise, which offers you absolutely all the comforts on board and has a specific itinerary and organized schedules that gives you the ease not only to visit Fernandina but some islands of the archipelago.
RECOMMENDED CRUISES TO VISIT FERNANDINA ISLAND
Type: Aluminum Motor Yacht
Construido: 2020
Largo: 38.32 m
With: 7.20 m
Capacity: 16 Pasajeros
Tripulantes: 8 miembros de la tripulación + 1 Guía Naturista
speed: 12 Nudos
Departures: Miércoles & Sábado
Activities: Caminata, Snokerling, Paseos en el bote, natación
Type: Motor Catamaran
Renewed: 2021
Longitud: 90.50 ft. ( 27.60 m )
With: 36.08 ft ( 11 m )
Capacity: 16 passengers
Crew: 8 crew members + 1 multilingual naturalist guide
Speed: 10 knots
Departures: Tuesdays and Fridays
Activities: Hikes, snorkeling, boat rides, swimming
Type Motor Catamaran
Renewed 2017
Length 88 ft. ( 27 m )
With 36 ft. ( 11 m )
Capacity 16 passengers
Crew 9 crew members + 1 multilingual naturalist guide
speed 10 knots
Departures Lunes , jueves
Activities Hiking, snorkeling, boating, kayaking, swimming, etc.
Type Yacht a motor
Construído 1991
Renewed 2019
Length 115 ft ( 35 m )
With 24 ft ( 7.6 m )
Capacity 16 passengers
Crew 10 crewmembers + naturalist guide
speed 12 knots
Departures Lunes , jueves
Type First class eco-friendly motor catamaran
Renewed 2016
Length 101.70 ft. (31 m)
With 34 ft. (10.50 m)
Capacity 16 passengers
Crew 8 members + 1 bilingual guide
speed 9 - 10 knots
Departures Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday
Activities Hikes, snorkeling, boat rides, swimming
Fun facts about Fernandina Island
The youngest island
Fernandina is the youngest island of the Galapagos archipelago, formed by volcanic activity in recent decades. The eruption recorded on the island occurred in 2009.
Pristine ecosystem
Due to its remoteness and lack of human development, Fernandina Island maintains a pristine and relatively intact ecosystem. This makes it a crucial habitat for many endemic and native wildlife species.
Marine Iguanas
Fernandina is home to one of the largest populations of marine iguanas in the Galapagos Islands. These iguanas are the only species of lizard that feed exclusively on seaweed and can dive to search for food in cold waters.
Flightless cormorant
On Fernandina Island you can find the flightless cormorant, also known as the Galapagos cormorant. This species is unique in its genus, since it has lost the ability to fly due to the lack of predators in the archipelago.
Stunning volcanic landscape
Fernandina's landscape is stunning, with rock formations, lava fields and volcanic craters offering stunning views and unique photo opportunities.
FAQ
Remember that Fernandina Island is a remote and almost unvisited island, so we recommend take a tour to the Galapagos include it in your itinerary to visit, or look for tour options.
If you want to visit Fernandina Island, you need to join an organized tour or the best decision is to book an authorized cruise that includes this island in its itinerary, this will ensure that your visit is safe.
Camping on Fernandina Island is prohibited for tourists and visitors, this is due to the strict conservation regulations implemented in the Galapagos Islands.
Fernandina Island is an active volcanic island, and yes, you may be able to see volcanic activity on it, however, it is essential to understand that volcanic activity is unpredictable and can vary in intensity and frequency.
Be sure to follow all regulaciones establecidas por el Parque Nacional Galápagos , use certified guides, respect wildlife, do not leave trash or waste on the island.