Fernandina Island (Isla Fernandina)

Visitors to Fernandina can actually see the history of the island as it was formed by the earth in the lava fields. Though you cannot walk on this tenuous material, since it is filled with cracks and fissures, you can experience the landscape along a clear path. Also, the island’s large population of marine iguanas provides a lesson in evolution; the reptiles adapted to the environment by feeding on algae. Some tours of the Galapagos include a quick stop on Fernandina, where you can snorkel with the marine iguanas, penguins, turtles, and flightless cormorants.

• The island’s terrain is rocky and is moderately difficult to navigate on foot in places.

• Be on the lookout for lava cacti; black, white, and red mangrove; Sally lightfoot crabs; Galapagos hawks; and sea turtles.

• From the Punta Espinosa visitor site, you can take two walks—one is slightly longer and heads inland to a large lava flow, while the other is shorter and covers the peninsula.

Fernandina Island is only accessible by boat. If you book a Galapagos tour that follows a route along the western islands of the archipelago, the itinerary typically includes a stop at Fernandina. You can also look into boat services that leave out of Santa Cruz or Isabela; they range from private yachts to group wilderness tours.

At Punta Espinosa on Fernandina, you might be able to see marine iguanas nesting; the babies are usually seen around June. This is also when you might spot Galapagos snakes and the Galapagos hawks that prey on the eggs and the newly hatched iguanas. Overall, the weather is similar to the other islands.

Found only in the Galapagos, marine iguanas aren’t the cutest creatures (even Darwin commented on their “hideous” looks), sporting spiky scales and smushed-looking faces. However, they’re talented at adapting to their surroundings, feeding on only algae and seaweed. They even have special glands that clean their blood of salt from the sea.