It is strange to be one of 3 passengers on the boat, it makes for some odd mealtimes and yet a lot of peaceful time along. More importantly, it means that we quickly and easily get to sites, often having them mostly to ourselves until some other larger group shows up, which is invariably 6 times our size.
Until then, we explore without any distractions or with a bunch of pale Australians in the shot.
This morning, we arrived near Chinese Hat , had a nice breakfast and then hiked the island, taking in the ubiquitous sea lions, Sally lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas. I'm looking forward to seeing these swim as we snorkel noff the same island.
The island and the ones nearby are stark and volcanic, black landscapes. As the island opposite, Isla Santiago, expanded massively a little over a hundred years ago, no vegetation has really had a chance to establish itself. There is a small island of vegetation and candelabra cactus surrounded by bare black basaltic lava. On the land, nothing lives except the occasional marine iguana and a very rare Galapagos penguin. Under the water, it's very different: alive with all kinds of fish taking advantage nof the many small nooks the lava created as it cooled.
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