Genovesa, also known as Tower Island, is home to over one million seabirds. Our highlights here were diverse, from sightings of Nazca, red-footed & blue-footed boobies and gulls to owls, fur seals, hammerheads sharks, turtles and manta rays.
Our adventure began with 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. We disembarked on a platform at low tide and began our walk, surrounded by birds and chicks of all kinds, with their vibrant colors and fascinating behavior. We were moved by the active seabird parents taking care of juveniles, hoping that one day they will be able to fend for themselves. We were also happy to find a few marine iguanas, which are smaller and darker than those we have encountered so far, as this northern hemisphere island has much different ecology. When we reached the end of our walk and prepared to turn back, we were surprised by rapidly approaching tidal water, which brought baby sting-rays, puffer fish, sea lions and many other creatures up onto what had just been our walking trail a few minutes ago.
Back aboard, we prepared for our last snorkeling outing to explore the underwater realm. Today we had close encounters with many fish and playful sea lions for the last time, and seeing them up close brought excitement and admiration. Some of us opted for beach snorkeling, which actually became a bit rough, for it seems that the seasons are changing a bit earlier than expected.
After this great adventure, we came back to our ship anchored inside Genovesa caldera to be briefed about our departure, and to enjoy our last delicious lunch, the pride for our culinary staff.
After lunch, we were ready to start off our next adventure, at Prince Philip’s Steps. We were surrounded by Nazca boobies and red-footed boobies, and we were also able to spot frigatebirds with their emblematic red-gular-pouches, which are proudly displayed by the bachelors as they eagerly hope to be selected by females. My colleagues were even able to find the elusive short-ear owl, and all of us felt fortunate to have an encounter with this unusual bird, which is the only camouflaged diurnal raptor in the world.
Taking this walk was like being transported back in time. There were birds flying all over, like in prehistoric times, surrounded by lava formations resembling the first foundation of Earth. Later, it was time to return to the ship and reminisce about the many experiences of this 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 has no fear, and we are reminded 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 surroundings 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 experiences our guests had this week will stay with them for a lifetime.
Adiós amigos.
