Espinosa Point

About the site

Espinosa Point

Espinosa Point, on the northeast tip of Fernandina, faces Isabela across the Bolívar Channel and is the main visitor site of the youngest island of the Galápagos. The landscape is almost entirely black lava, and the wildlife is found in a density few places can match.

A dry landing at a small dock among mangroves leads to two short trails. The coastal walk passes colonies of marine iguanas, sometimes hundreds piled together to warm up in the sun, sea lions resting on the rocks and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Near the shore, flightless cormorants dry their stunted wings and build their nests of seaweed, and Galápagos penguins and herons fish in the tidal pools. The inland trail crosses smooth, ropy pahoehoe lava to a wall of rough aa lava, with lava cactus, one of the first plants to colonize new lava.

Around June the young marine iguanas hatch, and the Galápagos racer snakes come out to hunt them, a scene made famous by nature documentaries. Galápagos hawks often watch from the mangroves.

The walk is not long, but the lava is uneven and very hot in the sun. Stay on the marked trail: the iguana nests in the sand are easy to crush.

Highlights

• Amazing Landscape
• Views of La Cumbre Volcano