Busting with bird life, Genovesa Island is a fascinating spot to visit within the Galapagos archipelago which is included on some Galapagos Islands cruises. Also known as Tower Island, it has some very special visitor sites which make it a popular destination. Here is everything you need to know about Genovesa Island to help you best plan your Galapagos Islands trip.
Genovesa Island Location and Geography
Genovesa Island is located to the northwest of the Galapagos archipelago. It covers an area of five miles square (14 kilometers square). At its highest point, it has an altitude of 210 feet (64 meters). While there is no record of any volcanic eruption on Genovesa during human history, it does have some young lava flows. The island is an unusual shape, reminiscent of a horseshoe. The shield volcano from which it was formed experienced many lava flows and over time one side of the caldera collapsed, leading to its unique shape. There is a saltwater crater lake in the center of the island. There is not much vegetation, only some scrub, a few bushes and some mangroves, as well as some Palo Santo trees.
Genovesa Island is too far away from any other Galapagos Islands like Santa Cruz to make it a day trip destination. This island can only be visited by passengers on Galapagos Islands cruises. All of the visitor sites are to the south of the island.
Many visitors who include Genovesa Island in their Galápagos plans do so as part of a multi-day cruise, where reaching this remote northern islet becomes part of a broader itinerary. One option on these marine routes is the Infinity Luxury Yacht, a smaller motor yacht designed for up to 20 guests with spacious cabins and private balconies. Cruising aboard a vessel like Infinity lets travelers combine daily landings at sites such as Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps with comfortable onboard time and knowledgeable naturalist guidance, a helpful way to experience both the birdlife spectacle of Genovesa and other iconic Galápagos highlights during the same journey.
Genovesa Island History
Genovesa Island is estimated to be approximately two million years old and was formed over the millennia by volcanic activity. This island does not have much in the way of human history as it has never been settled by humans. It was named after the Italian town of Genoa in honor of the hometown of Christopher Columbus who was born there in 1451. It was named Genovesa Island in 1892 to celebrate 400 years of passing since the first voyage of Columbus. While the records are not completely clear, it seems that the island was first charted by pirates in the 17th century.
Genovesa Island Highlights
The Birds – Genovesa Island is special highlight for birdwatchers. There is such a variety of bird species on the island that it is also sometimes known as “Bird Island.” Even non-bird lovers will be impressed by the sheer volume of birds that reside here. One of the reasons for this huge number of birds is the fact that few other types of species were able to migrate here. Many land species simply never really made it, leaving the birds to rule the roost! There are endemic species to look out for such as the lava gull, as well as the lava heron. A special highlight is spotting the red-billed tropic bird, a white bird with a long tail.
Prince Philip’s Steps – Prince Philip’s Steps is one of the two main visitor sites on Genovesa Island. It is worth noting that the first part of this nature trail is not the easiest. There is an initial climb up the steps (after which the visitor site was named) which is steep, though the distance covered is short. The effort made is well worth it, since right at the top there is a huge colony of red-footed boobies – in fact, the largest anywhere. The vegetation is well suited to red-footed booby nesting as they prefer to nest up in the trees – the only type of bird within the booby and gannet family to do this. Prince Philip’s Steps was named after a visit made here by Prince Philip.
Darwin Bay – the other main visitor site on Genovesa Island is also an important highlight of a visit here for many. The site has a short nature trail along a beach and a little way along to a viewpoint, passing by a lagoon on the way. As well as the on-land experience, visitors can also snorkel at Darwin Bay because it is a marine site too with some fabulous underwater wildlife.
Wildlife at Genovesa Island
Red-footed booby – Genovesa Island is the best place in the Galapagos Islands to see the red footed booby. They can be found in sizeable numbers at Prince Philip’s Steps, one of the visitor sites here, and they can be seen in the Palo Santo trees along the path. This is the smallest of the three species of boobies that is found in the Galapagos Islands.
Galapagos short-eared owl – this species can be seen among the bushes, and most commonly at dawn and dusk. It has developed a highly unusual technique for catching prey, targeting storm petrels that nest in lava tunnels. The owls have learned to watch where the storm petrels come and go from and then they sneak into the tunnels and hide, catching the petrels as they enter or leave.
Swallow-tailed gulls – the swallow-tailed gull is another species to keep a close look out for at Genovesa Island. They are nocturnal, unlike very other gull species anywhere globally. Visitors may need to pick their way carefully along the path to avoid crushing the eggs of this species.
Other bird species that may be seen at Genovesa Island include frigate birds, Nazca booby, finches (especially the large cactus finch), Galapagos doves, red-billed tropicbirds, noddy terns, storm petrels and mockingbirds.
There are relatively few land species on Genovesa Island. Sea lions are one such species, as are marine iguanas. There is no other reptile species on Genovesa, other than the marine iguana. Turtles can sometimes be seen in the water at Darwin way, as can hammerhead sharks.
Genovesa Island Activities
Galapagos activities are similar on most of the islands and Genovesa Island is no exception to this. One of the main activities for visitors here is walking on the nature trails to observe the fascinating wildlife and take superb, close-up photographs. Birdwatching along the trails is very special at Genovesa, and even the most reluctant birdwatcher is likely to be awed by the impressive array of birdlife here.
Snorkeling is also possible at Genovesa Island, specifically at Darwin Bay. This site can be particularly good for seeing hammerhead sharks gliding along in the depths, which is quite an experience! Other species to look out for during a snorkeling experience include manta rays and white tipped reef shark, starfish, and of course the usual pretty array of fish. There may also be a chance on some visits to kick back for a while on the beach at Darwin Bay.
Hotels on Genovesa Island
There are no human settlements and no population on Genovesa Island, so there are no hotels or other types of accommodation here. It is not permitted to stay overnight.
Restaurants on Genovesa Island
Similarly to hotels, there are no restaurants on Genovesa Island. Those on a cruise will be eating on their boat.
