We visited Genovesa Island today. This collapsed caldera is a unique place where thousands of seabirds can be observed at different life stages. We disembarked in the morning for a natural history walk along the beach at Darwin’s Bay, followed by kayaking and snorkeling in the bay. In the afternoon, we explored Prince Philip’s Steps. We finished our last full day in the Galapagos with a toast aboard National Geographic Islander II.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 18 May 2024
Genovesa Island, 5/18/2024, National Geographic Islander II
- Aboard the National Geographic Islander II
- Galápagos
Javier Carrion, Naturalist
Javier grew up on Santa Cruz island where his grandparents first arrived in the 1940´s. Veritable pioneers, his grandparents settled in the highlands where they found a place to raise their children.
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Sombrero Chino and Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island
It all started with an invigorating early morning kayak excursion during which we spotted the breathtaking landscape of Sombrero Chino, part of the Bainbridge Islets off Santiago Island. Herons, sea lions, and penguins greeted us. Afterwards, we went snorkeling on the Santiago side in front of Sombrero Chino, which did not disappoint. A large school of endemic black-striped salema gathered stealthily in the shallows while penguins and pelicans loomed in the vicinity. After a short motoring, National Geographic Islander II dropped anchor nearby at Sullivan Bay where we snorkeled again. This was our last chance to meet penguins, and the little birds showed up, along with a small sea turtle and thousands of fish. To complete our visit, we hiked the lava field at Sullivan Bay. The pahoehoe lava patterns are amazing, and luckily, we can photograph them as a souvenir of their beauty.
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Genovesa Island
Genovesa Island is a sensory delight. In the morning, we spent time on a sandy trail at Darwin Bay, where the absolute best of the Galapagos can be seen. This time of year – April – is extra spectacular with nesting red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls with chicks, lava gulls, and sea lions with pups. Snorkeling was our last chance to see the underwater realm of the Galapagos before flying back to civilization tomorrow. Calm waters off the beach allowed for long minutes without human sounds. We were successful in finding a short-eared owl. The owls hunt during the day, adapting to their prey’s diurnal habits. This island is…extraordinary in an already extraordinary place.