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GENOVESA ISLAND

Cruises to Genovesa Island

The first stop for many travellers will be Genovesa Island which is where you find the main airport for all Galapagos Islands cruises. It is from here that you bus to the southern point of the island before picking up a ferry or a tender ride to your waiting vessel.

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GENOVESA ISLAND

Area: 14 km2 or 5 mi2
Maximum Altitude: 64 m or 210 ft
Human Population: None.

Genovesa, the "horseshoe" island, is situated to the north east of the Galapagos Archipelago group. It is also commonly known as "Bird Island" and was named after the Italian city of Genoa, in honour of the famed explorer, Christopher Columbus. 

The island is estimated to have been formed nearly 2 million years ago by the then volcanic activity. In the course of time, one side of the caldera collapsed, letting in the sea to form what is now called Darwin Bay.

There is also an inland, saltwater lake called Lake Arcturus. It has a crater spanning over 600 metres in width at the rim, before dropping 60 metres down to the lake. 

GENOVESA ISLAND TODAY - 'BIRD ISLAND'

Genovesa has developed a reputation as “The Bird Island” because of the numerous and varied bird species that nest there. Visitors can explore two visitor sites and will be impressed with the abundance of frigatebirds, Nazca and Red-footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, storm petrels, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Darwin finches, and mockingbirds, among other bird species. Genovesa is one of the few places in the Galapagos Islands where Red-footed Boobies are found en masse.

The marine iguanas found along the shoreline are also the only reptiles to be discovered on Genovesa Island and are noted for being the smallest in the archipelago.

CONSERVATION OF GENOVESA ISLAND

In March 2003, Ladybird Beetles (Rodolia cardinalis) were released on Genovesa Island in an attempt to control the invasive cottony cushion scale (icerya purchasi) which is detrimental to many native plants. Genovesa was one of the last of the Galapagos Islands to undergo this form of biological control.

TOP PLACES TO VISIT ON GENOVESA ISLAND - PRINCE PHILIP'S STEPS

PRINCE PHILIP'S STEPS

Prince Philip’s Steps were named after the late Duke of Edinburgh who visited the Galápagos Islands in 1965 and again in 1981. Today’s Galapagos ships use small tender vessels to visit Genovesa and it is from these, and the ocean, that you get a chance to see the tall lava cliffs. Red-billed Tropicbirds soar high overhead, darting between their nests and feeding in the bay. A small colony of fur seals frequent the shoreline. Passengers can be dropped off at a rocky base of the steep stairway before ascending through  a colony full of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies.

Once you reach the plateau, a trail continues inland, passing many more nesting booby colonies in the thin Palo Santo forest. Near the end of the trail, visitors can look out over a rocky lava plain where Wedge-rumped Storm Petrels fly in all directions. Unlike other petrels, these birds are unique because they are active during daytime and return to their nests in the evening to avoid their predators.

Lucky visitors with keen eyes may catch a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl stalking its petrel prey along the island’s eastern cliffs.

DARWIN BAY BEACH

Darwin Bay Beach provides a small boat landing area made up of sand and coral. Galapagos cruise customers can easily disembark from here and follow a westward trail up to a beautiful lookout spot overlooking the bay. Birdlife is truly abundant with pairs of swallow-talied gulls, lava gulls and yellow-crowned herons. From this point,  you  can follow the trail through Palo Santo trees, Opuntia cacti, and Saltbushes which are home to the great frigatebirds and red-footed boobies. This is the one place you are guaranteed to see the red-footed boobies, estimated to be more than 200,000 strong. These are the smallest of the booby species found at the Galápagos Islands, 95% of which have brown feathers, while the remaining 5% have white plummage.

LOOKING TO BOOK YOUR GALAPAGOS CRUISE NOW?

As the owner of Galapagos Boat Cruises, BlueSun Travel is Australia's leading travel specialist for the Galapagos Islands. We have the working knowlege and expertise to help all Aussie travellers to choose:

  • The right Galapagos Cruise ship  
  • Airfares
  • Hotel accommodation in Quito or Guayaquil
  • Travel Insurance
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For more information on the Genovesa Island, or any of our Galapagos Cruises

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