Today, we started our day anchored in the caldera of Genovesa Island known as Darwin’s Bay, named after the most prominent visitor to this archipelago. After breakfast, on our way to the disembarkation area on the beach of Darwin’s Bay, we found the sky covered with birds. This is how the island got the nick name: seabirds’ island. After landing on a beach scattered with small pieces of broken coral, we started our short hike. The place was absolutely beautiful and full of different species of seabirds such as frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca and red-footed boobies, and night crowned herons. It was an unforgettable experience.
Later on, we headed back to the National Geographic Islander to get ready for our next activity: snorkeling in the inner rim of the caldera. In the water, all our guests were impressed by the diversity of fish we found there. We spotted parrotfish, Moorish idols, and damselfish, in addition to huge schools of mobula and golden rays, even hammerhead sharks. What an amazing way to say goodbye to the Galápagos marine life.
In the afternoon, we visited the visitor site at Prince Phillip’s Steps. There, we found a dramatic landscape created by old lava flows covered with many species of seabirds. During our hike we learned how ecological niches are being occupied by organisms that we didn’t have in the archipelago. A good example: the short-eared owls we spotted. They took the position of Genovesa’s diurnal predator, preying on the abundant storm petrels that nest on this Island.
It’s incredible how time flies when you are having a lot of fun, surrounded by nature and good company. Another great week in paradise.
