Genovesa Island (Galapagos)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Galapagos Islands
Local Time
2020-10-29 08:18
71°F 21.7°C
Mod. breeze7.5 m/s
72 °F / 23 °C 70 °F / 22 °C
Genovesa Island (aka "Tower Island") is one of the minor (smaller-sized) Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. The isle is named after Genoa Italy - the birth city of Christopher Columbus (1450-1506, sea explorer, navigator and colonizer). The island has a total area of 14 km2 (5 ml2) and max elevation of 64 m (210 ft).
This small isle is horse-shoe shaped, featuring a volcanic caldera with a collapsed wall (hence the name Tower Island). This part forms Bahia Darwin (Darwin Bay / landing point), which is surrounded by cliffs. Lake Arcturus is the salt water lake in its center.
At Darwin Bay (landing point) can be seen frigatebirds and swallow-tailed gulls (the world's only nocturnal gull species). The fauna is also represented by boobies (red-footed), noddy terns, lava gulls, storm petrels, finches, some tropic birds and even doves.
The Genovesa Island also features a large forest (named Palo Santo).
Genovesa Island cruise terminal
Cruise ships to Genovesa Island Galapagos dock (anchor) at Darwin Bay - located in the southern part.
The following map of Galapagos Islands cruise itineraries shows the two main routes and all island stops (ports / landing sites) in the archipelago.
Genovesa Island tours, shore excursions, hotels
City Tours and Shore Excursions
Popular Genovesa Island shore excursion destinations are:
- El Barranco (aka "Prince Philip's Steps") is a steep path leading through a seabird colony, up to cliffs 25 m (82 ft) high. At the top, the path continues inland, passing through more seabird colonies in a thin forest. The trail also provides overviews of a rocky plain. Prince Philip's Steps is a bird-watching site with boobies (red-footed and Nazca species).