Tower, or Genovesa, Island 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 started at the famous Prince Philip’s Steps where we were surrounded by Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies and frigatebirds. My colleague Ruly was able to find the first elusive short-eared owl. All of us felt rewarded to have a unique view of the only camouflage diurnal raptor on the island. While today was a red-footed booby day, we were also able to spot frigatebirds, chicks and juveniles eager to be fed by their parents.
Back aboard we prepared for our last snorkeling outing in search of the undersea realm. Today we had close encounters with many fish and playful sea lions for the last time. Seeing them up close brought excitement and admiration.
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, made with pride by our culinary staff. Then, some of us opted for a kayak outing.
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 re-directed human thought, Charles Darwin. At high tide and over a platform we walked surrounded by birds of all kinds, their chicks, different behavior and colors. We were first moved by so many active seabirds and parents taking care of juveniles hoping that one day 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 Pitri-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 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 allows us to realize that we are not so different.
“We must not acknowledge the methodical saying ‘don’t humanize the animals’ but instead ‘animalize the human’ by perceiving our surrounding with all our senses; embracing nature by coexistence and respect for one another, so we can become one with nature as we once were.” Celso Montalvo.
We have all bonded like a family, united by this invisible mysticism. At the end of our journey we hope to stay in touch and that the experience our guests had this week will stay with them for a lifetime.
Adios, amigos.
