Playa Negra, Black sand beach in Galápagos Province, Ecuador.

Playa Negra is a beach covered in dark volcanic sand, running along the coastline with scattered rock outcrops breaking the shoreline. The landscape reveals the raw geology of the islands, where black sand meets jagged rock formations that extend into the water.

The beach formed through volcanic activity millions of years ago that shaped the Galápagos islands and determined the black sand composition. This geological process continues to shape the appearance and structure of the entire coastline.

Playa Negra lies on Isla Marchena, an uninhabited island in the Galápagos that visitors cannot land on; the beach is seen only from the water or from a distance. Its name, Spanish for "black beach", refers to the dark volcanic sand of the shore.

The beach is generally easy to access, with June through November offering the best visiting conditions. Paths can be rocky and uneven, so sturdy footwear is advisable.

Marine iguanas regularly perch on the rocks along the shore and demonstrate their adaptation to salt water by periodically expelling excess salt. These reptiles are found only on the Galápagos islands and nowhere else on earth.