Today we woke up for an early walk uphill to the top of Bartolome, a satellite islet of Santiago Island. This relatively young island is a good place to appreciate different geological formations such as tuff and spatter cones, and young basaltic flows. The presence of pioneer plants such as Tiquilia nesiotica and the lava cactus makes of Bartolome a good place to understand how life started in Galapagos after the first colonizers stablished in newly formed islands. In the afternoon we visited Chinese Hat, another satellite islet of Santiago Island. The presence of sea lions and colorful fishes made up our afternoon. We finished our exploration day with an outstanding sunset that we could appreciate on the sky deck of the National Geographic Endeavour II.
4/3/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Bartolome and Chinese Hat
Today’s expedition took us to two of the most visually stunning sites in the Galápagos, Bartolome Island and Chinese Hat, with each island offering a fascinating view into the archipelago’s volcanic past and unique wildlife. We began the morning exploring Bartolome Island, a landscape dominated by rugged lava fields, spatter cones, and the iconic Pinnacle Rock. The hike to the island’s summit rewarded us with panoramic views of the surrounding islands, showcasing the beauty of this young volcanic terrain. Along the trail, spatter cones, formed by past eruptions, stood as a testament to the island’s fiery origins with their reddish coloration contrasting against the black lava flows. Below, Pinnacle Rock rose dramatically from the sea, a striking geological feature shaped by time, wind, and waves. In the afternoon, we navigated to Chinese Hat where we were fortunate to witness an intimate moment in Galápagos wildlife, the courtship ritual of Galápagos penguins. These charismatic birds engaged in elegant mating behavior. Nearby, a sea lion mother was comfortably resting upon the rugged lava flow. From volcanic landscapes to rare wildlife encounters, today’s journey through Bartolome and Chinese Hat was a reminder of the incredible diversity and geological wonders of the Galápagos Archipelago.
