Cerro Dragon & Sombrero Chino
Today our expedition around this magical archipelago found our beloved National Geographic Polaris anchored in front of Cerro Dragon. This visitor’s site is located on the northwestern corner of Santa Cruz Island. Impressive black lava flows merging with the white beach and the blue waters of the surroundings painted in our retinas an idyllical volcanic paradise. A very shallow little lagoon, which is located just some feet away from the landing spot contrasted in a delightful way with the nearby dry forest that is characteristic of this arid place. Today the sun’s light was gorgeous, allowing our visitors to take wonderful shots along the whole hike. With perseverance we spotted a couple of the endemic Galápagos land iguanas that live around Cerro Dragon. We observed a young male land iguana at close range from his burrow. With patience and in silence we approached little by little the reptile observing with amazement its wild beauty. Later in the morning we snorkeled around Guy Fawkes Islets where we observed many fish and invertebrate species. White-tipped reef sharks were especially admired and became a highlight of this underwater adventure.
During lunch time we headed to our next destination, Sombrero Chino. Several activities were offered and our guests had plenty of alternatives to choose from. Some went to stretch and relax on a little nearby white sand beach. Others went snorkeling or joined Zodiac cruises along the volcanic coastline. Some guests decided to kayak in this peaceful area. Everybody had a blast of a time for they could not stop praising their experience of being in intimate contact with nature in such different ways. A breathtaking sunset told us that it was time to come back onboard to share with our friends our new experiences and impressions. The intense colors and the silhouette of the peculiar shape of “Sombrero Chino” (Chinese Hat) were a golden finale for this superb day we spent on one of the ultimate paradises on Earth, the spectacular Galápagos Islands!
Today our expedition around this magical archipelago found our beloved National Geographic Polaris anchored in front of Cerro Dragon. This visitor’s site is located on the northwestern corner of Santa Cruz Island. Impressive black lava flows merging with the white beach and the blue waters of the surroundings painted in our retinas an idyllical volcanic paradise. A very shallow little lagoon, which is located just some feet away from the landing spot contrasted in a delightful way with the nearby dry forest that is characteristic of this arid place. Today the sun’s light was gorgeous, allowing our visitors to take wonderful shots along the whole hike. With perseverance we spotted a couple of the endemic Galápagos land iguanas that live around Cerro Dragon. We observed a young male land iguana at close range from his burrow. With patience and in silence we approached little by little the reptile observing with amazement its wild beauty. Later in the morning we snorkeled around Guy Fawkes Islets where we observed many fish and invertebrate species. White-tipped reef sharks were especially admired and became a highlight of this underwater adventure.
During lunch time we headed to our next destination, Sombrero Chino. Several activities were offered and our guests had plenty of alternatives to choose from. Some went to stretch and relax on a little nearby white sand beach. Others went snorkeling or joined Zodiac cruises along the volcanic coastline. Some guests decided to kayak in this peaceful area. Everybody had a blast of a time for they could not stop praising their experience of being in intimate contact with nature in such different ways. A breathtaking sunset told us that it was time to come back onboard to share with our friends our new experiences and impressions. The intense colors and the silhouette of the peculiar shape of “Sombrero Chino” (Chinese Hat) were a golden finale for this superb day we spent on one of the ultimate paradises on Earth, the spectacular Galápagos Islands!
