Day Eight - Bachas Beach & Sombrero Chino

The breakfast bell came earlier than usual as we decided to start hiking before the sun became too intense. We were back to Santa Cruz island, as we zig-zagged our way throughout the Galapagos, this time stopping of at Bachas beach, another beautiful white sand beach with lots of black lava formations.

Bachas is a nesting ground to the sea turtle and many turtle tracks adorned the beaches, as they travel from the nests to the water and back. It was also home to the usual array of sea iguanas, sea lions, and assorted crabs and birds. Most of the iguanas are fairly calm and tolerant, but every once in a while I'd come across a large male who would feel I was getting to close to his family and squirt water at me through its nostrils.

White Sand and Lava of Bachas Beach (Click to Enlarge)	Sea Turtle Tracks (Click to Enlarge)	A Friendly Sea Iguana on Bachas Beach (Click to Enlarge)

Just off the coast of Santiago is a very small island known as Sombrero Chino, so named due to its similar shape to a Chinese hat. Less than a quarter of a square kilometer in size, it is the last island formed in the Galapagos. Due to its small size, no mare than 12 people are allowed on it at any one time. It's one of the more unusal and impressive sights with deep blue water crashing upon black lava rocks, with hundreds of lava tunnels and lava slabs throughout the midland area.

Sombrero Chino (Click to Enlarge)	Coastline of Sombrero Chino (Click to Enlarge)	Unusual Landscape of Sombrero Chino (Click to Enlarge)

While we were waiting for the panga to pick us up, a young seal lion scooted up to me and started sniffing and licking me. He was so cute and playful. He tried to follow once the boat came, but gave up as we picked up speed.

My New Best Friend (Click to Enlarge)	Playful Galapagos Penguin (Click to Enlarge)	Galapagos Penguin (Click to Enlarge)

The snorkeling near Santiago was the best yet. The water was totally clear and we saw a good variety of sea life and activity. There were a couple marine iguanas feeding underwater on the algae, which is their primary source of food. We also saw a moray eel poking its head out of the sand. Then a few penguins started swimming around us, which was a definite highlight.

Marine Iguana Feeding (Click to Enlarge)	Galapagos Penguin (Click to Enlarge)	Moray Eel (Click to Enlarge)

Back on board after a very long snorkeling session, we began the 9-hour ride to Santa Fe. This would be the rockiest journey yet and almost everyone on board was ill before long. I was more fortunate.

 

Day Nine