Today has been the sunniest day of the week, what a perfect day we had! The highlights were the Galapagos penguins we saw and one of the geologic wonders of the archipelago at Sombrero Chino. At 8:30 a.m. we disembarked our Zodiacs. The best way to start our adventure was to get a ride in order to explore the marvels of the coastline that is found in the area. As we arrived to the lava rocks, shore birds such as striated herons looked concentrated on the rocks as they were hunting their prey out of the crevices. Farther along the coastline, an encounter with a Galapagos penguin got startled us as it swam underneath the zodiac, then climbed on the rocks as our guests took tons of pictures of this emblematic bird living on the Equator. Farther along, Galapagos sea lions were very playful as they were swimming along the coastline.
Once back on board the National Geographic Islander, it was time to see what the Galapagos Marine Reserve was going to offer to us. Once in the water, the color symphony played by the reef fish all over the area was marvelous, from the bottom of the rocky seabed, sea urchins and sea stars were the perfect contrast for underwater footage, and as an addition, marine iguanas made it perfect for a unique moment as they were feeding underwater. The sharks were amazing and they came so close to us! After this enchanting experience, it was time continue the adventure to our next destination. On the way out we stopped in one of the old cone formations standing up in the ocean to observe its caldera. Inside we saw flamingos and a breathtaking view. The geology here is definitely impressive!
In the afternoon the exploration continued as we headed out into the lava fields of Sullivan Bay. The splendor of the site was unique and magical. Since the very beginning, the rocks and the way lava was found was completely astonishing. Black like the evening and viscous like melted chocolate, Sullivan Bay made us feel as if we went back into time in order to see how all the islands looked when they were all young, several hundreds of thousands of years ago. The way the pa-hoe-hoe lava spread made us experience the wonder of nature when an island is built.
At the end of the hike, we enjoyed an awe-inspiring sunset as the last breath of the sun hit the tuff cones in the area, turning them into an orange coloration. The charms of Mother Nature speak alone, and today we heard the majestic symphony that the living paradise of the Galapagos Islands played to us.
