Genovesa Island’s location in the northern hemisphere gave us the opportunity to cross the equator line twice in one week. The natural history of this island is very interesting. Because Galapagos hawks never colonized this island, short-eared owls are the top predators. This island also lacks terrestrial reptiles. The only reptile present is the marine iguana, which is smaller here than elsewhere in the archipelago. That may be the reason why the prickly pear cactus never evolved sharp spines here. Galapagos is truly a unique place on our planet.
2/20/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Chinese Hat
The Galapagos never ceases to amaze and today was no exception. We began our morning with a landing at Bartolome Island, where we climbed the iconic boardwalk to the summit. Along the way, we spotted lava lizards basking in the sun and took in the breathtaking views of Pinnacle Rock standing tall against the deep blue water. The highlight of the day came in the afternoon as we explored Chinese Hat, a small cinder cone with striking lava formations. A Zodiac exploration took us along the shoreline where we spotted three Galapagos penguins resting on the lava rocks. These unique seabirds, the only penguins found north of the equator, stood side by side, preening and occasionally glancing towards the water as if contemplating their next dive. Guests also enjoyed snorkeling in the turquoise waters where sea lions twisted playfully and whitetip reef sharks swam through the currents. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we reflected on another extraordinary day in one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet.
