Cerro Dragon & Sombrero Chino

We started our day with a succulent breakfast at 7:00am. Right after, at 8:00am, we disembarked on Cerro Dragon, the Galápagos Dragon Hill, located on the northwest corner of Santa Cruz Island. In this place we had a dry landing on a natural pier.

As we walked inland we were able to see how the young Prickly Pear Cacti (Opuntia) are covered with spines to protect themselves from their predators, iguanas and tortoises. Some white-cheeked Pintail Ducks and Black-necked Stilts were seen close to shore at a small brackish lagoon. While the rocky trail got a little bit easier for walking, we could see a few flowers from Galápagos cotton, bare Palo Santo trees and “Muyuyo” (Cordia lutea). Once we reached the inner part of the trail we found the Galápagos land iguanas. In this reptile species, the males are orange and yellow, while the females are smaller and brownish looking.

After the walk we were all eager to go back on board so we could get ready for snorkeling or swimming. Some of us went on a great snorkeling trip along Guy Fawkes where we saw great schools of small brown stripped Salemas, Parrot fish, Black coral, Yellow tailed razor fish, White Tip Reef Shark and many invertebrates along the underwater wall side.

After a great lunch that included a wonderful sundae ice cream dessert and a well-deserved nap, some of us went snorkeling along the coast of Sombrero Chino Islet. Others went for a kayak ride, and some went to stretch and rest at a nearby small white beach.

All of us, kayaking, snorkeling or doing a Zodiac ride along the coast of Santiago, got to see a group of Galápagos Penguins. These endemic marine birds were seen resting on the rocks.

Without any doubt, Sombrero Chino reminded us about how fascinating the geology of the Galápagos Islands is. The black lava fields of the coast of Santiago Island seen from Sombrero Chino gave us the opportunity to see how barren the islands must have been when they were just formed.

After a beautiful day we had a great barbeque on one of the outer decks.