Bartolome and Sombrero Chino are two of the smallest islands lie just off the southern tip of Santiago. Like snapshots taken millions of years ago, both places offer a spectacular view of the geology and the arrival of pioneer plants to the archipelago.
With excellent weather conditions, early in the morning we headed to Bartolome Island. We walked along wooden steps observing a great number of eroded remains of tuff cones which reddish colorations formed a surrealist landscape similar to a mars o lunarscape. From the top of the island, the view was magnificent, observing submerged craters, many of the main islands and the most photographed view in Galapagos, the Pinnacle Rock.
After breakfast, we returned to the Island, disembarking on golden beach; we observed some finches and yellow warblers fluttering among the mangroves. Our guests had the opportunity to snorkel along crystalline waters observing great variety of tropical fish such as king angel fish, creole fish and white tipped reef sharks. But probably the best attraction was to observe two penguins in feeding frenzy swimming in front of the beach while a great school of black stripe salemas, tried to escape jumping in different directions.
In the afternoon, after a short navigation circumnavigating Santiago Island, we arrived to Sombrero Chino, which shape resembles a Chinese Hat. It was very sunny when ridding Zodiacs we headed for snorkeling along the channel that separates Sombrero Chino with Santiago. The visibility and temperature of the water were great, permitting our guests to observe a great number of colorful fish, Galapagos and white tipped reef sharks. Some sea lions were our companion during the last part and finally, we could observe penguins swimming indifferently among of us.
After snorkeling we came back to the islands; ridding the Zodiacs we observed huge lava flows along Santiago Island which eruption occurred in 1897, destroyed all evidence of life, leaving a barren landscape contrasting with the greenery observed along the highlands of the same island. Galapagos penguins and sea lions were the delightful of our guests who took many pictures of those beautiful and innocent creatures, while in the horizon the sun illuminated our happy faces, remembering this magical forever.
