Bartolome and Sombrero Chino Islands
Off the eastern coast of Santiago Island lays Bartolome, our destination for this morning. Before breakfast, our guests made their way to the summit of this little island. Upon landing, we could see the wooden walk board and staircase that has been built by the Galapagos National Park Service in order to protect the fragile substrate. Bartolome is small in area but extremely rich in volcanic features; it is said to be a field guide of volcanic structures like tuff and spatter cones, lava tubes and flows, which cover the entire island. At the top of the staircase we were able to admire the majestic volcanic landscapes that surround us; the nearly 400 steps were certainly worth it!
We spent the rest of the morning based at the orange-colored beach by the Pinnacle Rock, an unusual formation which is a landmark in the Galapagos. The blue, ochre and green colors of the beach blend perfectly, like in a watercolor. The coast of Bartolome offers an excellent snorkeling opportunity, with myriads of fish species, sea stars, rays and even some reef sharks. Others were able to enjoy the underwater world of Bartolome, from the comfort of our glass-bottom boat, which was pretty fascinating too.
Next in our amazing itinerary was Sombrero Chino. We had to navigate for a short time in order to anchor nearby some impressive and heavily eroded tuff cones surrounded by the sea. Sombrero Chino Island is separated from Santiago’s volcanic coast by a narrow channel with turquoise waters. We are well into the warm season and both the air and sea temperatures are quite pleasant, so why not enjoy another opportunity to jump in the water?! The snorkeling here was a real success: the waters were clear, the fish were abundant, and to our amazement, we were accompanied by a large group of endemic Galapagos penguins. Some of them rested on land, others were in the water. Everyone had an opportunity to see them and enjoy the presence of this fearless creature either from the water or from our Zodiacs. The nearby coastline is abrupt and inhospitable, but nevertheless it was equally beautiful against the clear blue sky. One can say that the magic of the Galapagos was present throughout the day… we are extremely fortunate to be able to witness this amazing corner of the natural world. May the Galapagos live forever!
