Genovesa
We are each of us on a unique journey and we end this visual journey in a uniquely enchanting place, Genovesa Island.
At sunrise, early risers were treated to golden early morning light. Captain Fausto Hinojosa navigated National Geographic Endeavour through the narrow entrance of this beautiful caldera as red-footed boobies and frigatebirds circled overhead. Birds on the wing tested photographers’ shutter speeds; juvenile red-footed boobies perched on the rail opened our apertures. The setting was rich with color, patterns and light.
As the sun rose in the sky, we disembarked for Prince Phillip’s Steps. Upon landing we were greeted by red-footed and Nazca boobies nesting in the lush vegetation. Cactus here have no land predators so the spines are soft. The markedly smaller marine iguanas crawled along the lava. We hauled long glass but once again the life at Galápagos came to us, sometimes too close for our telephoto lenses to focus. We were in awe of the short-eared owl that swooped down to the lava field a few feet in front of us.
At mid-day, snorkeling and kayaking activities allowed us to explore the inside edge of Genovesa. A Brydes whale was sighted in the distance, as were hammerhead sharks, rays and the Galápagos fur seal. Kids and adults alike captured the underwater colors with their digital cameras and underwater housings.
In the golden afternoon, we photographed the abundant bird life at Darwin Beach. Golden-crowned night herons, swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, ground finches and warbler finches filled our frames. But the red feet captured everyone’s hearts. Photographers changed their angle, got low and sandy and explored the kingdom of the fiddler crab. Small rays swam by in a nearby tidal pool as we enjoyed swimming in the shallow bay.
In Genovesa, preservation and protection meet photographer’s hearts. As a result, the life here comes to us, allowing us to capture amazing moments with wonderful stories of this captivating island. As our last full day comes to a close, we reflect on this wild place, the wild life that inhabits it, and an amazing journey made with new friends and memories that will not soon fade.
