El Barranco, Prince Philip Steps, Genovesa

Photo by Ivan Vasquez

Genovesa is nicknamed "Bird Island" due to its large colonies of seabirds and one of the few places that you can see two species of boobies nesting. According to my guidebook it has some of the most unchanged and well preserved wildlife since it is quite remote, located in the northeastern part of the islands, has never had any human settlement and is not a regular stop for touring boats as it is too far away for day trips for those not staying onboard boats. We spent the day here - with groups exploring different parts of the island with the naturalists in the morning and afternoon.

At 7:30 AM our group disembarked by zodiac and landed on the rocks at Prince Philip Steps, also called El Barranco (the Cliff). Steep steps were cut into the rocks leading up to the top of the cliffs. Our first sighting was the elusive Short-eared Owl, which hunts storm petrels by day.

Once we were on top of the cliffs a wide, flat path opened up and we were in an arid landscape of cracked lava literally stepping on Nazca boobies nesting on the ground and face to face with red footed boobies clinging to bushes. Welcome to the Galapagos! We all thoroughly enjoyed our two hour hike in groups of 10 people with a member of the expedition team along to tell us all about what we were seeing.