Isabela Island
We awoke to overcast skies on a day that promised volcanoes, sandy beaches, land tortoises as well as new wildlife species to add to our burgeoning lists. The Islander was positioned just offshore of the port town of Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island, and after another delightful breakfast, we broke up into groups for our morning volcano adventure. Puerto Villamil is nestled at the base of a huge shield volcano, Sierra Negra, the caldera of which was our destination for the morning. Approximately half the group (the fast and far volcano hikers) opted for the long 7 mile hike to the edge of the volcano rim and beyond while the other half opted for the hike up to the south eastern rim of the massive caldera. After disembarking the ship, we weaved our way through the rollers and breakers to a safe dry landing adjacent to an idyllic sandy beach. We jumped into our pickup taxis (some of us inside the cab … and others in the box) and up the mountain we went.
The temperature cooled with each switchback up the mountain and the vegetation changed from a dry savannah-like community near the coast to a lush green highland community. En route many of us saw the brilliantly colored Vermilion Flycatcher as well as the rarely seen Galápagos Hawk! By the time we reached the starting point for our hike, the clouds had disappeared, and we walked to the rim under blue skies with a delightful breeze.
Sierra Negra only recently erupted (late 2005) and the sight of the massive caldera, complete with smoking vents and layers of oozing blackened lava (long since hardened), is absolutely stunning. Yellow warblers were in abundance as were some of Darwin’s finches. The hike back from the edge of the rim seemed longer than the approach so the cool drinks waiting for us at the taxis upon our return were very much appreciated.
We made it back into town, hot and dusty but satisfied with our efforts and thoroughly impressed by the active volcano. We were quickly swept back to the ship and dined in cool comfort.
Our stay on the Islander was short as a number of passengers soon headed back to shore to explore the town (and check email at the local internet café). At 3:30 most of us headed to the tortoise breeding centre where we learned about the Charles Darwin Research Centre and their efforts to maintain healthy populations of land tortoises in the region. On our return walk to Puerto Villamil, we were fortunate to get sightings of common stilts, white-cheeked pintail, moorhens and even fabulous flamingos!
A few guests from the local community and the Charles Darwin Research Centre were invited onboard to share their experiences related to tortoise conservation. They joined us for dinner and the readings of the whiskey label contest. Sandy Walker’s team came out the victors although Ernesto and the Islander Naturalists claimed there was unfair judging!
A fabulous end to a fabulous day!
We awoke to overcast skies on a day that promised volcanoes, sandy beaches, land tortoises as well as new wildlife species to add to our burgeoning lists. The Islander was positioned just offshore of the port town of Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island, and after another delightful breakfast, we broke up into groups for our morning volcano adventure. Puerto Villamil is nestled at the base of a huge shield volcano, Sierra Negra, the caldera of which was our destination for the morning. Approximately half the group (the fast and far volcano hikers) opted for the long 7 mile hike to the edge of the volcano rim and beyond while the other half opted for the hike up to the south eastern rim of the massive caldera. After disembarking the ship, we weaved our way through the rollers and breakers to a safe dry landing adjacent to an idyllic sandy beach. We jumped into our pickup taxis (some of us inside the cab … and others in the box) and up the mountain we went.
The temperature cooled with each switchback up the mountain and the vegetation changed from a dry savannah-like community near the coast to a lush green highland community. En route many of us saw the brilliantly colored Vermilion Flycatcher as well as the rarely seen Galápagos Hawk! By the time we reached the starting point for our hike, the clouds had disappeared, and we walked to the rim under blue skies with a delightful breeze.
Sierra Negra only recently erupted (late 2005) and the sight of the massive caldera, complete with smoking vents and layers of oozing blackened lava (long since hardened), is absolutely stunning. Yellow warblers were in abundance as were some of Darwin’s finches. The hike back from the edge of the rim seemed longer than the approach so the cool drinks waiting for us at the taxis upon our return were very much appreciated.
We made it back into town, hot and dusty but satisfied with our efforts and thoroughly impressed by the active volcano. We were quickly swept back to the ship and dined in cool comfort.
Our stay on the Islander was short as a number of passengers soon headed back to shore to explore the town (and check email at the local internet café). At 3:30 most of us headed to the tortoise breeding centre where we learned about the Charles Darwin Research Centre and their efforts to maintain healthy populations of land tortoises in the region. On our return walk to Puerto Villamil, we were fortunate to get sightings of common stilts, white-cheeked pintail, moorhens and even fabulous flamingos!
A few guests from the local community and the Charles Darwin Research Centre were invited onboard to share their experiences related to tortoise conservation. They joined us for dinner and the readings of the whiskey label contest. Sandy Walker’s team came out the victors although Ernesto and the Islander Naturalists claimed there was unfair judging!
A fabulous end to a fabulous day!
