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!
10/3/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartholomew Island and Sombrero Chino
We split into groups for different excursions this morning. Four groups went up the staircase to the top for the iconic view over the isthmus of Bartholomew Island and Pinnacle Rock. We walked past exposed volcanic formations of all sorts: spatter cones, tuff cones, and lava tubes. Two other groups chose to explore along the coast by Zodiac in hopes of Galapagos penguin sightings. All of us were successful in what we hoped for and even the walkers saw penguins near the dock where we disembarked! Both snorkeling off the beach and deep-water outings along the backside of the island were tremendously productive because we saw it all: penguins and sharks being the top species, and diving blue-footed boobies too! The afternoon had National Geographic Endeavour II anchored not too far south, off the coast of Santiago Island near Sombrero Chino. A dramatically barren, small volcanic cone where another snorkeling outing was offered and late-afternoon Zodiac rides to search yet one more time for penguins. We can never get enough of them!
