Just before breakfast, National Geographic Endeavour II arrived to the northern island of Genovesa, where we observed many sea birds flying out to sea in search of food. The narrow passage into the collapsed Caldera is always spectacle—no matter where you look at, you see birds! There are two amazing visitor sites on Genovesa: Darwin Bay and Prince Phillips Steps. Here we observed a large number of red-footed and Nazca boobies, great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls. The island is a perfect location for resting and nesting. Visiting Genovesa is a truly unforgettable experience, and the Galapagos Islands are a treat for the soul!
5/29/2025
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National Geographic Gemini
Genovesa Island
Genovesa is considered one of the Galapagos crown jewels, and today it was showing off all of its splendor. Immediately after breakfast we put on our sturdy shoes and set out to explore Prince Philip’s Steps. This area is known for opportunities to observe not only large colonies of nesting Nazca and red-footed boobies, but maybe, just maybe, the short-eared owl which exhibits diurnal behavior on this island. After this walk we got ready for a dip in the Pacific Ocean and snorkeling along the inner coast of this caldera. The afternoon was equally amazing as we disembarked to explore Darwin Bay, along a short and easy trail that was packed with wildlife. Here we observed not only nesting frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies, but also a few yellow-crowned night herons. It was another incredible afternoon in the Galapagos Islands.
