- Address: Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, the island of the Chinese Hat.
On the southeast coast of the island of Santiago there is a small island, an area less than a quarter of a kilometer, with an intriguing name - the island of the Chinese hat. His visit is a must for all cruise programs. But why is it so remarkable?
Opening of the island of the Chinese hat
The island was formed relatively recently, as a result of active volcanic activity. It is not known who first drew attention to the original shape of the island, reminiscent of an inverted Chinese hat, and whose light hand behind the island entrenched this name. The best bizarre shape is noticeable when viewed from the northern part of the island. There is no quay on the island, so landing on the shore is possible either for its similarity from stone, in the presence of skill, or in water. The volcanic nature of the island is visible in everything. The soil consists of fragile remains of volcanic rocks, and the massifs of solidified lava formed large blocks, which from a distance can be taken as rocks or large stones.
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Walking around the island
On the island of the Chinese hat, practically devoid of vegetation, the guests will be met by the habitual happy inhabitants of the Galapagos Islands . Curious sea lions fearlessly approach people, and sunburning iguana, on the contrary, can not pay any attention to the arrivals. Spectacular bright red crabs perfectly contrast with dark stones and run away when a person approaches, funny clattering cloves on stones. The Galapagos penguins are also regular residents of these places. On the island there is a beach with dazzling white sand, which is not found anywhere else on the archipelago. Deep into the island, there is a 400 m long trail that gradually goes up to a height of about 50 meters. Along the road you can see lava tunnels up to 20 cm long, and the path itself is strewn with a layer of old corals, polished with waves to shine. The guide will necessarily show a pair of skeletons, one of which belongs to the dead natural death of an iguana, and the second to a sea lion, who was probably injured by a shark, but was able to escape and died already ashore. The water in the bay between Santiago and the island of the Chinese hat is calm and ideal for diving and snorkeling. The underwater world here is extremely diverse, and apart from the usual tropical fish in these waters, you can find a real reef shark.
How to get there?
The island of the Chinese hat is located 200 meters from the island of Santiago. From the airport on the island of Balter and the main port in Puerto Ayora it is separated only a few tens of kilometers.
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