Cerro Dragon, Guy Fawkes Islet & Sombrero Chino
We boarded our Zodiacs in the soft blue of the pre-dawn light, photographers and early risers both. This was a special time, and we were going to take full advantage. Our destination on this clear, calm morning was Cerro Dragon, or “Dragon Hill,” so named because of the many land iguanas that call its gravelly slopes home.
The sun topped the horizon just minutes after we made our landing on Cerro Dragon’s rocky volcanic shoreline, bathing the surrounding landscape with a vivid golden glow. Giant opuntia cactuses towered on the ridgeline above the beach, their backlit spikes set alight by the first rays of the morning sun. Photographers call this time “magic hour,” and that’s exactly what it was … crystalline light, warm and shining, illuminating an unbelievable setting, on a wild and rocky coast in the Galápagos Islands.
We spent an hour making photographs, or just taking in the view, before returning to the National Geographic Endeavour, where we joined our companions who started the day at a more leisurely pace at breakfast. Shortly after, the whole group returned to the shores of Cerro Dragon to hike, explore and search for the land iguanas that give this place its name.
As in every other location in these enchanted islands, wildlife was our constant companion. Passing a shallow lake, we spotted great blue herons, semi-palmated plovers, black-necked stilts, whimbrels, semi-palmated sandpipers, and a solitary flamingo. Making our way along the trail as the day warmed, we began to see more and more land iguanas, including one industriously digging an underground den. The bright yellow color of the land iguanas provided a vivid counterpoint to the blacks, grays and reds of the surrounding landscape.
The rest of the day was devoted to snorkeling, kayaking and Zodiac tours. Deep-water snorkeling took place at the Guy Fawkes Islets, and kayaking, beach activities and Zodiac rides occurred at Sombrero Chino.
In the lounge after dinner, some of the photographers among us presented their work from the previous five days in slideshow “laptop galleries.” It’s always interesting to see how your fellow travelers are experiencing the expedition visually, and our very talented photo enthusiasts didn’t disappoint. Spectacular images of the landscape and wildlife of this most spectacular of places, provided an appropriate ending to another day in the wild Galápagos Islands.
