Slap bang in the middle of the Galapagos archipelago, Pinzon Island is approximately the midway point between the larger, populated islands of Santa Cruz and Isabela. The story of the conservation efforts that have been made here have shown how invasive species can be overcome to ensure diversity of Galapagos wildlife for the future. Here is everything you need to know about Pinzon Island.
Pinzon Island forms part of the central group of islands in the Galapagos. It sits west of Santa Cruz Island, south of Rabida Island and east of Isabela Island. The whole island is a volcano, and it covers an area of seven square miles (18 kilometers square). The maximum altitude of the island is 1,502 feed (458 meters).
This island is fairly dry, and it generally has an arid-looking landscape. However, there is spiny vegetation as well as a variety of different fern species to be found, especially higher up where the landscape is often exposed to mist.
It is generally only possible to visit this island on a Galapagos Islands cruise, though only a handful of cruise vessels stop here, and even then, only usually for snorkeling nearby. If visiting the area of Pinzon Island is important to you then you must check tour itineraries before booking as visits here are uncommon. There are some day tours available for those on Galapagos land-based options, but none stop on the island itself. They tend to stop in the general area nearby the island for snorkeling.
Pinzon Island was initially formed as a result of volcanic activity and is thought to be about one million years old. Pinzon Island gained its name from the Pinzon brothers who were captains on the journey of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. They captained the ships the Pinta and the Niña. The island also has another name which is less commonly used, Duncan Island.
Pinzon Island’s recent history is heavily conservation focused. In the late 1950s / early 1960s it was discovered that while there was a small but significant population of giant tortoises (100-200) on the island, all of these were aged and there were no babies or young at all. The conservationists identified that this was in large part due to black rats being introduced in the latter part of the 19th century. This invasive rat population was feeding on hatchlings and eggs. The same problem was seen for birds and other reptile species too. Whalers also played a part in the demise of the giant tortoise population on this island.
Since the mid-1960s efforts have been underway to rectify this problem, starting with bringing eggs from Pinzon tortoise nests and rearing them elsewhere, releasing them back on Pinzon later. In the late 1980s efforts began to get rid of the black rats, since they were having such a devastating effect on the ecosystem on the island. Early work in this regard unfortunately failed. More recently, poison methods have been used, and the rats have seemingly been eradicated. As of 2014 it appeared that tortoise numbers were increasing, and today biodiversity is much improved.
Highlights at Pinzon Island include:
Snorkeling – there is some very good snorkeling to be had near Pinzon Island. One amazing highlight in this respect that some travelers report is snorkeling and swimming among penguins. Seeing these graceful birds swimming underneath the water is a very special experience.
Diving near Pinzon Island – for those with a love of diving, on live aboard tours in the Galapagos some itineraries stop for this activity near to Pinzon Island. Please note that if you want to dive in the Galapagos Islands you must either visit on a live aboard diving cruise ship or take a diving day trip from Santa Cruz. Regular Galapagos cruises are not permitted to offer diving as an activity. Diving highlights include the chance to sometimes see a variety of sharks including Galapagos shark, white tip shark and hammerhead shark. In the waters here are also rays, Galapagos penguins, sea turtles and sea lions.
Aircraft remains – in the Second World War two airplanes flying from the US base at Baltra crashed on the island. It is possible to still see what is left of these airplanes on the island today.
Wildlife has been increasing on Pinzon Island since the rats have been eradicated. Wildlife on the island itself includes:
Giant tortoises – the numbers of these gentle giants have been rising substantially in recent years thanks to conservation efforts.
Darwin’s finches – some of Darwin’s finches can be seen on Pinzon Island.
Galapagos doves – this Galapagos-endemic species with red brown plumage can be seen on Pinzon Island, especially in lowland areas.
Vermillion flycatchers – this male of this species has a bright red chest and black wings, but the females are less colorful with a chest that is peach colored. They are related to a South American species but are a bit smaller.
Galapagos snakes – the Galapagos racer snake is a near threatened constrictor species that can be found on Pinzon Island. They are dark brown in color with some white markings.
Sharks – at the marine visitor site of No Name Rock to the south of the island there are sometimes opportunities to see shark species here such as Galapagos sharks and hammerhead sharks.
There are few activities on Pinzon Island. Snorkeling is an activity that some enjoy here, at sites not too far from the island.
Another activity that sometimes occurs near here is diving. As mentioned above, this can only happen from designated boats, and it is not permitted from general Galapagos cruises.
There is no accommodation on Pinzon Island, like so many of the other Galapagos Islands. The main reason for this is to ensure conservation of the island and to protect the species that live there. There is no infrastructure on the island at all, and it is not permitted to camp there either.
It is not possible to eat on Pinzon Island and there are no restaurants or other eateries. Visitors to the island can only eat on their cruise – this is the only option.
