Cerro Dragón & Sombrero Chino
The sun was already shining when we moved to shore on the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island. One of the many highlights of this visitor site is a thriving colony of Galápagos land iguanas. Thanks to conservation programs of the Galápagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station, and their constant teamwork for a period of more than ten years, they have been able to remove many introduced species from this area such as feral pigs, donkeys and goats, just to mention a few. The destructive effects of these alien species were reflected in the reduction of the population of these symbolic reptiles.
After a long and enjoyable early morning walk, we went to explore a different location. This time we headed to a great snorkelling spot, Guy Fawkes Islet. The sea was calm, and we had warm waters and lots to see. Conditions were ideal for a splendid adventure. The snorkeling site was teeming with life such as reef fish in overwhelming numbers and Galápagos sea lions as well.
In the afternoon we departed on the National Geographic Endeavour towards Sombrero Chino. We had, once again, a great meeting with the fantastic wildlife of the Galápagos. The different activities that were offered included snorkeling, kayaking, Zodiac rides and beach time.
Snorkeling in this fraction of the Galápagos can be astonishing; the nutrient rich waters are home to myriads of organisms that entirely depend on the marine ecosystem for their continued existence. Snorkeling truly is a lifetime experience; today we had close encounters with white tipped reef sharks, Galápagos penguins and thousands of reef fish.
The sun was already shining when we moved to shore on the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island. One of the many highlights of this visitor site is a thriving colony of Galápagos land iguanas. Thanks to conservation programs of the Galápagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station, and their constant teamwork for a period of more than ten years, they have been able to remove many introduced species from this area such as feral pigs, donkeys and goats, just to mention a few. The destructive effects of these alien species were reflected in the reduction of the population of these symbolic reptiles.
After a long and enjoyable early morning walk, we went to explore a different location. This time we headed to a great snorkelling spot, Guy Fawkes Islet. The sea was calm, and we had warm waters and lots to see. Conditions were ideal for a splendid adventure. The snorkeling site was teeming with life such as reef fish in overwhelming numbers and Galápagos sea lions as well.
In the afternoon we departed on the National Geographic Endeavour towards Sombrero Chino. We had, once again, a great meeting with the fantastic wildlife of the Galápagos. The different activities that were offered included snorkeling, kayaking, Zodiac rides and beach time.
Snorkeling in this fraction of the Galápagos can be astonishing; the nutrient rich waters are home to myriads of organisms that entirely depend on the marine ecosystem for their continued existence. Snorkeling truly is a lifetime experience; today we had close encounters with white tipped reef sharks, Galápagos penguins and thousands of reef fish.
