Marchena Island

Marchena Island is an uninhabited volcanic island in the central Galápagos archipelago of Ecuador. It is volcanic in origin and lacks permanent settlements.

The island is primarily of interest for its volcanic landforms and the surrounding marine environment rather than built visitor facilities. Shorelines and submarine lava flows support marine biodiversity typical of the Galápagos, but public landings are generally restricted for conservation reasons.

Marchena formed through volcanic activity like the other Galápagos islands and has no long history of permanent human habitation. It has been visited intermittently by naturalists, researchers and passageing vessels since the islands were incorporated into Ecuador.

Marchena sits in the central Galápagos Islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean and is administered as part of Ecuador’s Galápagos Province. It lies within the protected Galápagos National Park and marine reserve.

• Access restriction: Landing and visitor access are tightly controlled as the island is uninhabited and part of the Galápagos National Park; visits are normally limited to scientific expeditions or specific park-authorised trips.