We started our day by visiting an islet known as Chinese Hat; this is a beautiful spatter cone with a characteristic shape. The landscape of the area is amazing. On one side you have Chinese Hat with its white coralline beaches, the orange color of the lava and the few plants growing along the shore. On the other side along the shores of Santiago Island a magnificent Candelabra Cactus forest grows on the new lava fields, so new they conserve still its black color.
At Chinese Hat we started with a Zodiac ride. We were fortunate to find two juvenile penguins resting on the shore. We spotted three different species of herons: a great blue heron, a striated heron, and a yellow crowned night heron. Marine iguanas were very well camouflaged on the black lava. Finally some blue-footed boobies and brown noddies came to our encounter.
The sun was shining…it was time to jump in the water. Snorkelers had a blast! The waters were warm and the visibility has great. Sharks, rays, iguanas, and hundreds of fish made a great show for us! At the beach we relaxed and got a visit from a penguin and some sea lions that curiously approach to us! We had fun!
In the afternoon we moved to another area of Santiago Island. We disembarked in front of Bartolome Island at a place known as Sullivan Bay. The shapes of the lava are outstanding, while walking on this new lava field you discover the most amazing forms! It’s amazing to see how some few pioneer species manage to make their way and survive in this hostile ecosystem.
What a day surrounded by amazing landscapes!
