Bartolome Island is located in the heart of the Galápagos Archipelago. It is considered one of the jewels in the crown, due to its youth and the fact that it’s relatively lacking erosion, it’s an open field guide of various volcanic structures. The ochre colors of the surrounding coast and volcanoes are striking, particularly in the morning sun. The surrounding waters are rich in nutrients, therefore a snorkeling session was almost mandatory. A couple of Galápagos penguins warmed themselves in the sun not far from their rocky homes. In the afternoon, we repositioned northwards and anchored by Sombrero Chino or “Chinese Hat,” an island that has a peculiar shape given by the viscous, sticky lavas that it once erupted.