Galapagos Islands Day 6 - Oct 25

Volcanic Islands

Sometime during the night the crew raised the anchor and Letty headed out of Academy Bay and around the west side of Santa Cruz Island to the northern most area where an island known as “Chinese Hat” which actually looks like an old fashioned Chinese farmers hat.  Chinese Hat is next to Santiago Island.  Tying to a mooring buoy we headed in to Chinese Hat island for a wet landing and a hike across the lava fields of the island looking at the first types of vegetation to grow in the lava fields following an eruption.  We also walked over many lava tubes, some of which were broken open.  There was no new wildlife, just raw scenery on lava fields.

Sunrise over Chinese Hat

Santiago Island

Views from Chinese Hat

New Life in the Lava

Miriam

Patrick in Lava Fields

Broken Lava Tubes on Chinese Hat

Sea Lions and Lava Lizards

Sally Lightfoot Crab getting ready to molt

After returning to the boat we donned our wetsuits and snorkeled along the shore of Santiago Island, seeing Marbled Manta Rays, White Tipped Reef Sharks, and the usual variety of fish, including several types of parrot fish.  The water visibility was much improved over previous snorkeling trips.

Volcanic remains on Bartholome Island

Volcanic crater from top of Bartholome Island

Incredible views from Bartholome Island

View of Santiago Island Volcanic Cones

Returning to the Letty we had lunch while motoring to Bartholome Island.  After the normal siesta, we headed into the island for a dry landing and then a climb of 400 steps and a boardwalk to the top of the island for a spectacular view across Bartholome to Santiago Island with numerous volcanic cones dotting the horizon.  Returning to the ship we again donned our wetsuits for the last deep water snorkel of the trip around the base of a volcanic spire before returning for our afternoon briefing and dinner.