Surrounded by a vast ocean, Genovesa Island is a satellite to the central islands and a jewel in its own right. The island’s isolation offers strategic foraging grounds for pelagic seabirds, birds who spend nearly their entire lives at sea when they are not nesting.
In the morning, we made a wet landing on the coral beach of Genovesa Island, where we encountered sea lions and red-footed boobies. The sheer number of seabirds was amazing, and we enjoyed plenty of photo opportunities along the trails. Genovesa hosts the best nature shows! After an amazing walk, we were ready for snorkeling and kayaking to view the cliffs of the massive crater that distinguishes Genovesa.
Options for the afternoon included Zodiac exploration and kayaking to see the dramatically stratified cliffs that are home to Nazca boobies, frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds, and yellow-crowned night herons. In the late afternoon, we landed at Prince Philip's Steps for an exploration walk in the dry palo santo forest where red-footed boobies nested everywhere. The forest was loud and busy with the rituals and activities of Nazca boobies, the largest of the booby family. Courtship, nest-building, feeding, and feather-preening! What a day!
