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Punta Espinosa |
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The Galapagos Islands remain one of the great natural wonders of the world and few travel writers know them better than Lonely Planet author, Michael Grosberg. These are his Galapagos 'must-dos' Click to view Top 5 Galapagos Islands.
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Best For Animal-Spotting (Punta Espinosa) |
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 This site on the volcanic island of Isla Fernandina in the west of the Galapagos provides the most mesmerizing example of inter-species coexistence. Watch your step, since everywhere you turn there are groups of animals casually waddling or swimming or, in the case of the enormous colony of marine iguanas, just hanging around. |
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These much-photographed animals behave as if they haven't a care in the world. They are the pit-bulls of the islands - they’re ugly but somehow endearing at the same time. It’s fascinating to sit within arms-length of these animals with their spiny and scaly backs that turn blue and red during the mating season as they snort salt spray into the air.
Nearby are flightless cormorants nesting their young and impressive and threatening looking Galapagos hawks. |
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The little cove by the landing site for Punta Espinosa is a great opportunity to see marine turtles, iguanas, sea lions, crabs, a variety of fish and maybe a penguin or two swim around one another as if they were part of a choreographed show at Sea World.
A few movies, including Master and Commander starring Russell Banks filmed scenes in front of a solitary mangrove tree here. But for those with a keen interest in volcanology, Fernandina, the youngest of the main islands, is the island where you’ll most likely witness an eruption; the most recent occurred in May 2005.
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| See Galapagos Islands Overview for information on costs |
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