Expedition Journal: A Day at Genovesa Island in Galapagos

Our last stop on the Northern Galapagos Islands itinerary aboard the Santa Cruz II Galapagos Cruise is a special treat in the archipelago. In fact, it’s such a treat that the Santa Cruz II actually spends an entire day there, experiencing the wonders of Genovesa Island in Galapagos with its two spectacular visitor sites.

Guests Of Santa Cruz Ii At Genovesa Island.
Guests Of Santa Cruz Ii During A Visit To Genovesa Island.

Experiencing a Day at Genovesa Island in Galapagos

In the morning we were there, it was particularly crisp with not a single cloud in sight. It was a nice clear day, with fresh air and perfect weather that was neither too sunny nor too humid. Our first activity of the day was a long panga ride along the coastline. On this relaxing ride along, our guests had the wonderful chance to enjoy some fantastic scenic views found inside the beautiful bay of Genovesa Island. On this particular occasion, there was a ton of wildlife, too, with plenty of different bird species soaring throughout the skies and also many other creatures swimming about the ocean and hanging out along the rocks. Sometimes, the simplest things are the best things in life, as we all realized how nice it was to have the option of passively seeing so much by doing so little. It was definitely a change of pace from what tends to be an active excursion of the enchanted isles.

A Walk on the Wild Side of Genovesa Island

Once you’ve arrived and stepped foot on the actual island, guests often need to be very careful as there are tons of all types of birds hanging around, some of them sitting directly on the trail itself. This is an excellent time for everyone to take pictures.

Nazca Booby On Genovesa Island.
A Beautiful Nazca Booby At Genovesa Island

After everyone is done with the main attraction, it is time for us to start walking again in order to make it to the other side of Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands. The other side has an incredibly busy sky filled with tons of birds that are flying around in one of the most organized patterns of “chaos” ever. It always surprises me how so many birds manage to fly around at once without experiencing incidents or spectacular crashes amongst themselves. The main goal once reaches the other side of the bay is to try and spot one species of bird in particular – the majestic short-eared owl. It is often very hard to find one because it blends in so well with the surrounding environment. However, this time we were lucky enough to not only spot one but two owls out in the open!

Galapagos Owl On Genovesa Island.
Galapagos Short-Eared Owl

H2O

The best part about a day at Genovesa Island in Galapagos is what awaits guests underwater. Soon after everyone got into the water on this occasion, there were plenty of different kinds of fish and, swimming right behind them, a couple of rays that came graciously swimming along by us.

After that, a white tip reef shark also decided to show up and give us a little show. But without a doubt, one of the species that stole the show (as is almost always the case) was a perfectly playful and curious sea lion. It stayed with our group for a very long time and the only time it left us was after the naturalist had already called out to us to wrap things up and head back to Santa Cruz II. It all flew by so fast, but the same thing seems to happen every time: when you’re distracted by the wonders of nature during a day at Genovesa Island, time flies and you never really want it to end.

Updated:May 10, 2023

Published:January 25, 2018

CALL US TODAY

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Tour 2024 Package: 12 days / Quito, Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu / From USD 9,598 per person

SHARE THIS POST

RELATED POSTS

TravelandLeisure.com

Condé Nast Traveler ONLINE

This small, secret rooftop of the restored Casa Gangotena mansion peers over Plaza San Francisco in the center of Quito’s colonial Old Town, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Order a Cedrón Spritz, a refreshing mix of rum, lemon, sparkling wine, and fresh lemon verbena (cedrón) syrup and leaf, then revel in the mesmerizing, real-time montage of daily life in Ecuador’s capital as it parades past.

National Geographic Traveller

A Font of information, Klaus has spent decades in the field, leading tours in the Amazon, Andes and Galapagos Islands. He hung up his guiding boots a few years back and now creates itineraries for the tour operator, Metropolitan Touring. Adrift in the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of miles from mainland South America, Galapagos is one of the most biodiverse locales on Earth.

Cruise Critic

Santa Cruz II is a replacement for the much-loved Santa Cruz, which plied the waters of the Galapagos for 36 years. It is not a new ship; it was built in 2002 and sailed as Mare Australis under the Australis cruise brand, operating expedition cruises around Cape Horn and to Antarctica. Metropolitan Touring bought the ship in 2015 and completely refurbished it, launching it as Santa Cruz II in October 2015.

Telegraph Ultra Travel: 50 Greatest Hotels in the World

When this modern, minimalist, glass-walled jungle lodge opened in 2012, it changed the accommodation game in South America. Arquitect Alfredo Ribadeneira’s “protective cocoon” would impress in a modern city; in the depths of an Andean cloudforest, it is wild, audacious and beautiful. Though only 70 miles from Quito, Maspi Lodge sits in splendid isolation, perched on a cliff at the end of an unsealed road.

Terms and Conditions

Itinerario de 5 días / 4 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (4214 USD + impuestos por persona)
Itinerario de 7 días / 6 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (5672 USD + impuestos por persona)
No reembolsable. Aplica únicamente para residentes ecuatorianos en nuevas reservas directas realizadas, hasta el 30 de junio del 2022, con un ejecutivo de ventas del hotel. Válido para estadías hasta el 31 de agosto de 2022. No puede ser combinada con otros descuentos, promociones u ofertas. El descuento no aplica para otros servicios. El precio no incluye recargo de combustible de $20 por noche de crucero.

We have what you are looking for!