A day of hiking on Genovesa Island under the warm tropical sun is a pristine paradise. During the morning we explored Darwin Bay, surrounded by red-footed boobies and frigatebirds, while the fresh ocean air and salty breeze accompanied us. Despite the sparse vegetation, the contrast between the volcanic rocks and the green mangroves creates a unique landscape full of life, with seabirds flying over our heads. In the afternoon, at Prince Philip’s Steps we saw Galapagos sea lions and fur seals resting on the rocks, and at the end of the trail a short-eared owl hidden among them. The gentle breaking of the waves and the songs of the birds immersed us in the serenity of this isolated corner of the world, where nature feels vibrant and pure.
5/29/2025
Read
National Geographic Islander II
South Plazas and Santa Fe Islands
South Plazas is a small island of the Galapagos archipelago, with vibrant vegetation, a big colony of Galapagos land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, and Galapagos sea lions along the coast. It’s awesome to walk through this rocky terrain on this sunny morning, while at the same time being surrounded by this spectacular wildlife. Afterward we returned to National Geographic Islander II , enjoyed a delicious breakfast, and then set out for kayaking with sea lions playing beside us. In the afternoon we reached our second destination of the day, Santa Fe Island, which is another stunning site with unique wildlife. Our first activity was snorkeling, where we were surrounded by different kinds of fish and some young, playful Galapagos sea lions. Later we went for a hike and looked for the Santa Fe land iguana, a species exclusive to this site. We found a few of them getting ready for the night, walking to their burrows where they sleep. We were mesmerized by the size and the yellow coloration of this precious reptile.