Most of the Galapagos Islands are located south of the equatorial line; however, Genovesa is north of the equatorial line. The water temperature is warmer at this latitude compared with the rest of the archipelago. The flora and fauna have very special adaptations. Genovesa has the smallest marine iguanas of the six populations found in Galapagos. It also has one of the smallest prickly pear cactus trees due to the lack of terrestrial reptiles.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 29 Jul 2022
Genovesa Island, 7/29/2022, National Geographic Endeavour II
- Aboard the National Geographic Endeavour II
- Galápagos
Walter Perez, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Walter was born in a very small town on the mainland of Ecuador. His first trip to the Galápagos was when he was 12 years old, visiting friends and aunt, who had moved to the islands. From the first moment he saw the Islands, he fell in love with the...
Read MoreShare Report
Exploring Galápagos
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
5/22/2025
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz Island
Our amazing morning started with perfect weather, not too sunny or too cloudy. Visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, we learned about the challenges involved in the ongoing conservation efforts for the giant tortoises. We continued our journey into the highlands of Santa Cruz, where we experienced firsthand the developments of the Galapagos pioneers, including different ways of processing coffee, cacao, and sugar cane. Later at El Manzanillo Ranch, we shared the natural environment of the iconic giant tortoises, and learned about their behaviors and survival over the past few centuries.
5/21/2025
Read
National Geographic Endeavour II
Santiago Island
Our morning started with an exciting Zodiac ride in very calm waters. We were able to see the most elegant seabird, the Nazca booby. We spent the second part of the morning on the glass bottom boat and in kayaks. We had so much fun observing sea lions, lots of fish, sharks, and even a manta ray through the glass. It was fantastic! By the afternoon, we had already sailed to a different location on Santiago Island. Puerto Egas, once a salt mine colony, offered us a very pleasant nature walk. We observed a few Galapagos land iguanas which were part of a conservation project for this beautiful and endemic reptile. As we took the trail back, a small colony of fur seals were basking on the rocks and swimming. At the end of our exploration, we encountered the mysterious Galapagos hawk! It’s the largest bird of prey, imposing yet calm.