Genovesa Island occupies about 14 km2 and its maximum elevation is 64 m. The horseshoe-shaped island has a volcanic caldera whose wall has collapsed, forming the large Darwin Bay, surrounded by cliffs. Arcturus Lagoon, located in the center, is filled with salt water and its crater sediments are less than 6,000 years old.
Although there are no known historical eruptions of Genovesa, there are relatively young lava flows on the slopes of the volcano. This outlying island is located in the northeastern part of the archipelago. Many cruise ships are unable to include it due to the long distance to reach it, which takes about 8 hours.
The Darwin Bay, on the southern coast, has almost no access to the sea and is surrounded by high cliffs. The water is teeming with microscopic marine life, which is why many associate it with green pea soup. The beach at Darwin Bay is made of coral, and a 750-meter trail leads to colonies of seabirds. There is also the option to take a panga (boat), which is often accompanied by sea lions. Here, you can observe the cliffs from the sea, which are home to large colonies of red-footed boobies. The thrush is the smallest type of thrush and the only one that builds its nest in trees or cliffs to protect itself from predators.
El Barranco Trail
El Barranco is a trail on Genovesa Island that is extraordinarily steep, leading you through a colony of vibrant seabirds to 25-meter-high cliffs. At the end of the trail, continue inland, passing other seabird colonies in a forest of Palo Santo (Bursa tree). Upon exiting the forest, you will encounter a rocky plain, where at the edge of the cliffs you can find masked boobies, red-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, and hundreds of Galapagos swallows. The Galapagos swallows are unlike any other in the world, as they fly all day to avoid predators and return to their hollow nests at night. Genovesa also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities, although the water is slightly murky due to its proximity to the beach, but the view of the cliffs is stunning. Thanks to its rich food supply, the bay is often filled with marine iguanas and is also frequented by juvenile hammerhead sharks.
When crossing the equator line, many cruises offer an “equator baptism” for passengers who have never crossed the line at sea. The Galapagos Islands are an unforgettable destination.
