Genovesa is one of the last, near-pristine islands on Earth. It is located north of the equatorial line of the Galapagos, and it is the remains of an extinct volcano. The southeastern rim has given way to winds and ocean waves, so it is possible for the National Geographic Endeavour II to anchor inside its main caldera. This tiny island is sometimes referred to as Hitchcock Island because it is the home to thousands of birds which can thrive here surrounded by rich, productive waters and a total lack of introduced predators. The total innocence and fearlessness in the eyes of the seabirds that welcomed us human visitors is a memory that will last forever.
2/27/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz Island
After being in touch with pure nature for many days, we reached civilization for one day. After breakfast, some of us decided to visit the Charles Darwin Breeding Center to admire the conservation programs that take place there. This work not only encompasses the tortoises, but other species that have been threatened in previous centuries by introduced plants and animals. Despite the heat and humidity, we had the opportunity to support the local economy until we got split into groups to visit the highlands of the island. One group went to the sugarcane plantation and the other visited the hydroponic farm. Both visits made us realize how people make a living in a sustainable way that remains harmless to nature. We followed up our tours with a terrific lunch. When we were finished, it started to rain, but once it slowed down, most of us decided to walk with our ponchos to look for the giant tortoises roaming in the wild.
