Mangle Point (Punta Mangle)

About the site

Mangle Point (Punta Mangle)

Mangle Point, Punta Mangle, lies on the east coast of Fernandina, the youngest and most volcanically active island of the Galápagos, facing Isabela across the Bolívar Channel. Besides Punta Espinoza, it is the only place on Fernandina where cruises stop, and it is visited from the water only.

The panga ride follows a coastline of black lava and small coves lined with mangroves. Flightless cormorants, found only on Fernandina and northern Isabela, dry their stubby wings on the rocks, Galápagos penguins fish in the cool water, and marine iguanas, sea lions, pelicans and lava herons are common along the shore.

The cold, nutrient-rich water of the Cromwell Current makes the western islands one of the richest marine areas of the archipelago, and the snorkeling can be excellent: green sea turtles feed on the algae, rays rest on the sandy bottom, and penguins and cormorants may dart past underwater.

The water here is often colder than in the rest of the islands, so a wetsuit is recommended. Mangle Point is part of the western routes, usually visited together with Punta Espinoza and the sites across the channel on Isabela, such as Tagus Cove, Urbina Bay or Vicente Roca Point.

Highlights

• Rich Marine Life