Today, our expedition brought us to one of the most remarkable places in the Galapagos: Genovesa Island. We began our exploration with a comfortable wet landing in Darwin Bay. From the moment of arrival, we were awed by the magnificence of the place and by the presence of so many sea birds in the area. Swallow-tailed gulls nested, frigatebirds flew overhead, and red-footed boobies covered the mangroves.
Farther into the trail, the presence of baby red-footed boobies against green vegetation and brown lava rocks made for a perfect photo opportunity. The calling of birds was a natural symphony for our senses. Once we reached the farthest point of the trail, we enjoyed a charming view of Darwin’s Bay.
Back on board the National Geographic Endeavour, it was time to get ready for our last deep-water snorkeling opportunity. As soon as we came into the water, the Galapagos Marine Reserve revealed its wonders in the plentiful reef fish species found among the lava rocks. The biggest surprise was the Galapagos shark that swam close to the rocks along the cliff.
In the afternoon, we visited Prince Phillip’s Steps, a bird paradise featuring a remarkable Nazca booby colony. As we reached the farthest point of the trail, it was time to find one of the rarest birds in the islands: the short-eared owl.
At the end of the expedition we enjoyed a magical sunset in the enchanted Galapagos Islands.
