Today the National Geographic Endeavour II anchors in front of one of the few Islands visited by Charles Darwin in 1835. This visitor site is known as Espumilla Bay, referring to the froth that forms along the shore due to the heavy wave action. We have an early hike here and kayak. After breakfast we reposition to Buccaneer’s Cove where we deploy our zodiacs and glass bottom boat for deep-water snorkel and interpretation of the underwater realm on the Glass Bottom Boat. After lunch we move to yet another visitor site know as Puerto Egas, here our guests enjoy the beach before going for hike along the intertidal zone of South James Bay.
10/4/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Genovesa Island
With coffee in hand, I stepped out onto the front balcony of the lounge to see what was going on. We had just entered Darwin’s Bay, dropped anchor, and the juvenile red-footed boobies had found the ship and were flying around us on an inspection tour. The rest of the day continued with discoveries of all kinds. An early morning inversion layer (locally known as “garúa”) had fallen and dampened the environment with much desired drops of fresh water, although the chicks of various species didn’t appear terribly pleased in having wet feathers. On our return, the same bedraggled individuals looked smooth, sleek and dry once the sun had come out. The Galapagos National Park has only two sites for visitors, both spectacular, both well worth a slow walk among the palo santo trees to see the great frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, Galapagos doves, Darwin’s finches, short-eared owls, and storm petrels. Snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding along the base of the cliffs of Darwin’s Bay followed. There’s nothing quite like this island anywhere in the world.
