We continued our navigation a little north of the archipelago to visit two different locations on Santiago Island.

As the day was breaking we dropped anchor next to Chinese Hat. This is one of the several islets found around this Island. The reason for its creative name is that the appearance of this cinder cone looks like a small flat hat, like the ones used in Asia. Here some unusual mixes of gas triggered these explosions that brought magma from the mantle and formed small islets almost connected to the big island, Santiago. When the lava reached the ocean it boiled the water and therefore all the organisms died and became part of a beautiful sandy bottom. It was in this place where first after breakfast we deployed our Zodiacs and had a ride along the coast. Marine iguanas, pelicans, and lava were the highlights, but there was one species of animal endemic to the Galapagos that was avoiding us. After a while, we spotted a Galapagos penguin molting its feathers on the rocks. Later we took a swim in these waters to see some more marine life. For our surprise not one but several penguins came up close to the encounter with all the snorkelers there.

Just before lunch we set sail to the next destination on Santiago, but stopped next to the Bainbridge Rocks to see the lagoon in the middle, filled with greater flamingos.

After some rest, and once the heat of the afternoon was more pleasant, we landed on Sullivan Bay for a walk. This place feels like transporting yourself into the origin of time on these islands, to the very moment the lava came out of the volcanoes and made everything barren. All the lava flows and formations look like you are on the moon, with no living things. Around two hundred years ago there was a calm eruption that brought all the lava and later, birds, insects, and the wind transported seeds. It was not easy to find them because they are father inside the island, but there are in fact some pioneer plants like Mollugo, or lava cactus.

It was a beautiful day in a place full of lava and origins. The trip is almost coming to an end but the best is about to come.