Today we started our day anchored in the caldera of Genovesa Island known as Darwin Bay, named after the most prominent visitor of this archipelago. After breakfast on our way to the disembarkation area on the beach of Darwin Bay we found the sky full of birds. That’s where the island got the name “Sea Birds’ Island”. After landing on a beach covered with small pieces of broken coral we started our short hike. The place was absolutely beautiful loaded with different species of sea bird such as frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls, Nazca and Red footed boobies and many night crowned herons. It was an indescribable experience.
Later on we headed back to the National Geographic Islander to get ready for our next morning activity which was snorkeling in the inner rim of the caldera. In the water all of our guests were impressed by the diversity of fish that we found there. We spotted parrots fish, Moorish idols, Damsel fish, Golden cow nose rays, and even hammer head sharks. What an amazing way to say goodbye to the Galapagos marine wildlife!
In the afternoon we visited Prince’s Phillip Steps visitor’s site. There we found a dramatic landscape created by old lava flows covered with many species of sea birds. During our hike we learned how ecological niches are occupied by organisms that we don’t have in this archipelago. A good example are the short eared owls that took the position of the diurnal predator in Genovesa looking after the abundant storm petrels that nest on this Island. We spotted several of them.
It is incredible how time flies when you are surrounded by nature, good company, and are having a lot of fun. It was another great week in paradise.
