Genovesa Island
Disembarking from our pangas was a wet landing at Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island, and as soon we arrived, a multitude of birds were flying around us; frigate birds, red-footed boobies with little fluffy chicks, Nazca boobies, swallow tailed gulls. However, the highlight for me was the male frigate birds with the red balloons demonstrating the courtship display, trying to attract females. They were so excited, flapping their wings, moving their heads and making different sounds, all to get a female’s attention, it was amazing! Walking farther onto a big lava flow, from the clifftop we could see hammerhead sharks swimming very close to the sandy beach below us. Everybody was taking pictures of this unusual sighting.
After the walk we continued with swimming and snorkeling activities, and the smaller white-tipped reef sharks were the attraction near the beach. Later in the afternoon the pangas took us to Prince Philips Steps, a set of natural stairs, which are the only access to the high cliffs surrounding Darwin Bay. Walking along the cliffs we saw Nazca boobies preening each other and courting, and during the walk we spotted a short-eared owl, which was the highlight for many. We went back to the ship for sunset cocktails as the Polaris sailed out of the bay, lining up the navigation markers, and finally, just before all light had left the sky, dolphins came to play around the bow. It was a great day!
Disembarking from our pangas was a wet landing at Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island, and as soon we arrived, a multitude of birds were flying around us; frigate birds, red-footed boobies with little fluffy chicks, Nazca boobies, swallow tailed gulls. However, the highlight for me was the male frigate birds with the red balloons demonstrating the courtship display, trying to attract females. They were so excited, flapping their wings, moving their heads and making different sounds, all to get a female’s attention, it was amazing! Walking farther onto a big lava flow, from the clifftop we could see hammerhead sharks swimming very close to the sandy beach below us. Everybody was taking pictures of this unusual sighting.
After the walk we continued with swimming and snorkeling activities, and the smaller white-tipped reef sharks were the attraction near the beach. Later in the afternoon the pangas took us to Prince Philips Steps, a set of natural stairs, which are the only access to the high cliffs surrounding Darwin Bay. Walking along the cliffs we saw Nazca boobies preening each other and courting, and during the walk we spotted a short-eared owl, which was the highlight for many. We went back to the ship for sunset cocktails as the Polaris sailed out of the bay, lining up the navigation markers, and finally, just before all light had left the sky, dolphins came to play around the bow. It was a great day!
