Genovesa Island
Tower, or Genovesa, is home to over one million seabirds. Our highlights here were diverse, from Nazca, red and blue footed boobies and gulls to owls, fur seals, hammerheads sharks, turtles and manta rays.
Our adventure began with a walk that starts at the famous Prince Philip’s Steps, where we were surrounded by Nazca and red-footed boobies, frigate birds, and the elusive short-ear owl. All of us felt rewarded to have a unique view of a few camouflage diurnal raptors.
Back aboard we prepared for our last snorkeling outing in search of the undersea realm. Today we had close encounters with a few Pacific green turtles. Seeing them up close brought excitement and admiration, while others opted for kayak.
After this great adventure, we came back to our ship anchored inside Genovesa Caldera to be briefed about our departure and enjoyed our last delicious lunch, and pride for our culinary staff.
We were then ready to start off our next adventure, which was a wet landing on a white coralline beach inside Darwin Bay, named by a celebrity visitor, William Beebe, in honor of a great naturalist who redirected human thought, Charles Darwin. We walked surrounded by birds of all kids, observing their chicks, behavior and colors. We were first moved by so many chicks and adult seabirds and parents taking care of them until the one day when they can fend for themselves. We were also happy to find a few marine iguanas which are smaller and darker as this northern hemisphere island has much different ecology and, like a Petri-dish, different results.
Taking this walk was like being transported back in time. There were birds flying all over, like in prehistoric times, and lava formations resembling the first foundation of Earth. Later, it was time to return to the ship and reminisce about the many experiences of such a wonderful week. As we look back and gaze at the islands for the last time, this place now seems to be timeless to us. It is now deep within our hearts and our experience has been unforgettable on these special islands, where the wildlife that has no fear and allows us to realize that we are not so different.
We have all bounded, united by this invisible mysticism; at the end of our journey we hope this week will stay with them for a lifetime.
