Dragon Hill & Chinese Hat
As we first landed on Dragon Hill area, we got impressed by pre-historic hills with iron oxide red coloration contrasting with the black basaltic lava around the coast, which of course would reflect the heat, as we walked through it.
Once we got farther inland we could also observe the impressive holy sticks or incense tree forest (Palo Santo), resembling a dead grayish looking forest; the truth is that these plants are in a dormant stage, not having enough green leaves during the dry season to preserve water.
By the time we left the holy stick forest behind we entered a land iguana nesting area; it was astonishing to see all those nests on the sides of the hills; it would look to us like little craters on the ground.
We were very lucky during our walk in the morning. We saw several iguanas and as we were about to leave the nesting area, we encountered two male land iguanas showing their territorial behavior, shaking their heads at each other and going around in circles; we stopped for the show and waited until one of them walked away.
So by the time we finished the trail we were happy, having enjoyed a wonderful morning with encounters of land iguanas, lizards, learning a lot about endemic plants, and just at the end of the trail before we even got on our Zodiacs, we found a gorgeous great blue heron which gave us the idea that this was the farewell greeting for the morning.
In the afternoon we disembarked on Chinese Hat, and enjoyed the amazing landscape and the various geological features of this incredible cone. As we landed on the beach we were greeted by a small colony of Galápagos sea lions, which were resting on the beautiful white coralline sand. We had a great afternoon! During the snorkeling outing, some rays appeared to be resting at the sandy bottom while suddenly three white-tip reef sharks appeared, patrolling their waters.
As we went along the coast of Santiago on the kayaks, some lava herons and penguins were spotted, and one could admire the gorgeous colors of the Sally Lightfoot crabs with its contrast against the black lava.
After a great day, which by the way could not have been better, we started heading back to the National Geographic Polaris, continuing to appreciate this wonderful paradise enchanted by its unique biodiversity.
As we first landed on Dragon Hill area, we got impressed by pre-historic hills with iron oxide red coloration contrasting with the black basaltic lava around the coast, which of course would reflect the heat, as we walked through it.
Once we got farther inland we could also observe the impressive holy sticks or incense tree forest (Palo Santo), resembling a dead grayish looking forest; the truth is that these plants are in a dormant stage, not having enough green leaves during the dry season to preserve water.
By the time we left the holy stick forest behind we entered a land iguana nesting area; it was astonishing to see all those nests on the sides of the hills; it would look to us like little craters on the ground.
We were very lucky during our walk in the morning. We saw several iguanas and as we were about to leave the nesting area, we encountered two male land iguanas showing their territorial behavior, shaking their heads at each other and going around in circles; we stopped for the show and waited until one of them walked away.
So by the time we finished the trail we were happy, having enjoyed a wonderful morning with encounters of land iguanas, lizards, learning a lot about endemic plants, and just at the end of the trail before we even got on our Zodiacs, we found a gorgeous great blue heron which gave us the idea that this was the farewell greeting for the morning.
In the afternoon we disembarked on Chinese Hat, and enjoyed the amazing landscape and the various geological features of this incredible cone. As we landed on the beach we were greeted by a small colony of Galápagos sea lions, which were resting on the beautiful white coralline sand. We had a great afternoon! During the snorkeling outing, some rays appeared to be resting at the sandy bottom while suddenly three white-tip reef sharks appeared, patrolling their waters.
As we went along the coast of Santiago on the kayaks, some lava herons and penguins were spotted, and one could admire the gorgeous colors of the Sally Lightfoot crabs with its contrast against the black lava.
After a great day, which by the way could not have been better, we started heading back to the National Geographic Polaris, continuing to appreciate this wonderful paradise enchanted by its unique biodiversity.
