It all started with an invigorating early morning kayak excursion during which we spotted the breathtaking landscape of Sombrero Chino, part of the Bainbridge Islets off Santiago Island. Herons, sea lions, and penguins greeted us. Afterwards, we went snorkeling on the Santiago side in front of Sombrero Chino, which did not disappoint. A large school of endemic black-striped salema gathered stealthily in the shallows while penguins and pelicans loomed in the vicinity.
After a short motoring, National Geographic Islander II dropped anchor nearby at Sullivan Bay where we snorkeled again. This was our last chance to meet penguins, and the little birds showed up, along with a small sea turtle and thousands of fish.
To complete our visit, we hiked the lava field at Sullivan Bay. The pahoehoe lava patterns are amazing, and luckily, we can photograph them as a souvenir of their beauty.
