Darwin Bay
Darwin Bay
5
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Teeming with wildlife, this scenic bay is named for Charles Darwin, the famous scientist and naturalist who created the Origin of Species theory.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
62 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
9
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
301lisa33
Coventry, UK1,875 contributions
Nov 2019
This bay is reasonably enclosed providing some protection. The water provides opportunities for snorkelling but the wildlife above the bay is also very good
Written 16 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ross H
Warwick, Australia2,289 contributions
Mar 2020
No other word to describe the Islands - amazing. We snorkelled with sharks, rays, seals, sea lions , tiny penguins and millions of fish. The water was warm though some chose to wear wet suits for extra bouyance..
Written 12 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve N
New Hartford, CT145 contributions
Jan 2020
We had a fantastic hike up to Darwin Lake. The vegetation is very sparce the entire way up but the views are well worth the hike. We then continued to the top of an old volcano. From this point, you could see forever in all directions. If you like hiking, this is the place for you.
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MorningstarMarilyn
Park City, UT117 contributions
Oct 2019
Take time to support this project. They have a tortuise sanctuary and breeding center. Don't go on Sunday, most of it is closed, plus odd hours. The information center is pretty good and I think everyone should support their efforts. I will add them to my list of donations annually. Very worthwhile project!
Written 1 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jamasiangal
Canada80 contributions
Oct 2019
This was my first time snorkeling.
a) Look up the water temperature before you go--we went early October and though it sounded warm, it wasn't.
b) Most cruises have wetsuits either for free or for rent--many are shorties or 3mm. It isn't warm enough in October so many other snokelers bailed on a great experience because they were too cold.
If you aren't going to bring a full suit that's 5mm for that water temperature, bring (at minimum) a rashguard to wear under or other neoprene gear to keep you warmer, like a vest, west suit jacket, booties, etc. I went to a scuba place and told them the temperature and they were great at making the right recommendation.
Most boats only have the basics and you may not be able to rent additional gear before you get on the boat.
c) Sea Lions--apparently they LOVE bubbles and will come closer to you. It was AMAZING.
a) Look up the water temperature before you go--we went early October and though it sounded warm, it wasn't.
b) Most cruises have wetsuits either for free or for rent--many are shorties or 3mm. It isn't warm enough in October so many other snokelers bailed on a great experience because they were too cold.
If you aren't going to bring a full suit that's 5mm for that water temperature, bring (at minimum) a rashguard to wear under or other neoprene gear to keep you warmer, like a vest, west suit jacket, booties, etc. I went to a scuba place and told them the temperature and they were great at making the right recommendation.
Most boats only have the basics and you may not be able to rent additional gear before you get on the boat.
c) Sea Lions--apparently they LOVE bubbles and will come closer to you. It was AMAZING.
Written 28 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelingourworldwithck
Indialantic, FL1,359 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
Galápagos Islands are famous for their flora, fauna and animals. I saw the blue-footed boobies and today and red-footed boobies at Darwin Beach.
Written 10 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan R
Cambridge, UK1,264 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Landing on the beach is a wet landing easily accomplished in sandals or bare foot.
If you have visited South America, you will have probably seen frigate birds flying above you (they have a distinctive flight and tail pattern) but in most locations you don't see then close. In fact, there are two varieties - great frigatebirds and magnificent frigatebirds but the differences are very subtle (slight difference in size, difference in plumage sheen, eye ring colour) and its only in Galapagos that you see them close enough to distinguish easily. But beyond that specialised interest, the real wow is seeing an enormous number of nesting pairs in a small area and their courtship rituals (male fills a red sac to display to the female with various calls). Along with the frigatebirds there are various kinds of boobies and the Galapagos Mockingbird and the rare lava gull in a small beach with a mangrove area by the water (which you can wade through and potentially see rays and various fish).
If you have visited South America, you will have probably seen frigate birds flying above you (they have a distinctive flight and tail pattern) but in most locations you don't see then close. In fact, there are two varieties - great frigatebirds and magnificent frigatebirds but the differences are very subtle (slight difference in size, difference in plumage sheen, eye ring colour) and its only in Galapagos that you see them close enough to distinguish easily. But beyond that specialised interest, the real wow is seeing an enormous number of nesting pairs in a small area and their courtship rituals (male fills a red sac to display to the female with various calls). Along with the frigatebirds there are various kinds of boobies and the Galapagos Mockingbird and the rare lava gull in a small beach with a mangrove area by the water (which you can wade through and potentially see rays and various fish).
Written 5 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SFO45
Virginia766 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
We made a wet landing from our panga off the Santa Cruz II at Darwin Bay, and immediately saw a shark in the shallow water. We took a short hike in the area of the landing (populated by sea lions on the beach), and immediately saw frigate birds with their red chests puffed out, and boobies and chicks. Some people in our group went snorkeling off the beach, but conditions were rough. Earlier, our kids went kayaking around Darwin Bay, and with the rough water everyone got drenched. This trip was in June, which has rough water.
Written 3 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam P
London, UK94 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
As a birder, Genovesa is a must but it also has great Snorkelling opportunities too. Prince Phillip stairs is probably more dramatic but Darwin Bay is great, nesting Red-footed and Nazca Boobies, Great Frigate birds, Swallow-tailed Gulls at close range, displaying Frigates with their fully puffed pouches! But we also had: sharks, rays and sea-lions in the water.
Written 3 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
snorkelingfan46
Ridgefield, CT226 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
This was the last full day stop on our tour of the Galapagos Islands, and for birding watching it was quite amazing with frigate birds, red-footed Boobies and Nazca boobies. We even were lucky to spot a short-eared owl. There are two landing points, the dry one being Prince Philip's Step which leads to a long, but easy hiking trail, once your climb the steep concrete steps (about 15 steps). Like the wildlife on the other islands, it was easy to get very up-close photos, especially of the male frigate birds with their fully expand red throats and all the nesting gulls and boobies with their eggs and chicks. The waters were a bit stirred up the day we were there, so the snorkeling wasn't as good as we had experienced around the other islands, but it was easy to see if it had been clear, it would have been equally spectacular.
Written 22 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Darwin Bay
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