Safari to Isla Pinta

famously home to the tortoise Lonesome George

The Isla Pinta is an obviously volcanic outcrop, essentially a single cone, which rises to an impressive 777m (2549’). This altitude is sufficient to create a modest micro-climate, leading to slightly more verdant upper slopes.

Status : closed
Area : 60 sq km / 23 sq mi
Location : 110 km northwest of Seymour Airport
Activities : hiking
Highlights : major rehabilitation project

The island was named after the Pinta caravel, one of the ships under the command of Christopher Columbus when he first visited the Americas (even though he never reached Galapagos). It was previously known as Louis Island and Abingdon Island (after the Earl of Abingdon frmo England).

The island was home to Lonesome George, the most famous giant tortoise in history. The last of his sub-species (Chelonoidis abingdonii), George was removed from the island in 1972 to the Charles Darwin Research Station on Isla Santa Cruz, where scientists attempted but ultimately failed to get him to breed, before his death in June 2012.

The main problem on Isla Pinta was feral goats, which were initially released by pirates during the 1700s. During a thirty year campaign over 41,000 goats were exterminated, with the population finally being eliminated by the clever use of ‘Judas goats’ (animals which were released with radio collars, to lead marksmen to the remaining herds).

Since 2010 a major program of rehabilitation of the island’s natural ecosystems has been underway. An important part of this has been the reintroduction of giant tortoises, which are critical ecosystem engineers. The tortoises released so far have been sterile, so that they will not breed.

In 2017 a hybrid tortoise was discovered to have at least some of the unique Chelonoidis abingdonii DNA and there are now hopes that this species (or a close approximation to it) can be brought back from extinction.

Isla Pinta is also home to marine iguanas, Galapagos fur seals and dolphins. Notable bird species include Galapagos hawks and swallow-tailed gulls.

Isla Pinta is presently closed to land visits. However, there is one offshore dive site, so the area does feature in a few specialist dive live-aboards.

If you specifically want to include Isla Pinta in your trip, then do let us know and we will investigate whether or not it might be possible.