Villamil and Sierra Negra Volcano
Today we are in May, and we anchored in Puerto Villamil bay, one of the most beautiful places in the archipelago. A sunny day was waiting for us outside, and we woke up early to disembark on a jetty, to then take pick up trucks up to Sierra Negra Volcano. Our goal this day was to hike to the south eastern rim and beyond. The group was separated into two different options, the fist one being those who wanted to go as far as they could, closer to the place were the latest eruption happened, and the second option to hike to the rim at a calmer pace, bird-watching along the way up and down (still a decent distance of more or less three miles).
Gradually we walked to the rim of the volcano, and once we arrived everyone was stunned with the overwhelming landscape that Sierra Negra offers; an incredible experience. We enjoyed the view as well as the different species of finches that from time to time distracted us in our main purpose.
Meanwhile, a couple of people who had decided not to go up the volcano had a tour of town and back ways of Puerto Villamil down on the coast. They visited the salt-water lagoons, saw flamingos, and drove out of town along the wondrous sandy roads to the colorful cemetery where plenty of local history lies resting.
Around midday we were back on board to have our lunch and later some of the guests decided to have a nice stroll around the town, later joining the rest of the group in our visit to the breeding center. Many of the tortoises there are being protected and bred in captivity; many were almost extinct, and all of them belong to Isabella Island. In this protected area we had the chance to see various stages in the life-cycle of the Galápagos giant tortoise. The path leading out from the center towards town passed by lagoons with various wading birds, the most striking of which were the flamingos in their courtship mode!
By late afternoon we have made some friends in the town by having a beer in one of the cantinas at the peer. Great day.
Today we are in May, and we anchored in Puerto Villamil bay, one of the most beautiful places in the archipelago. A sunny day was waiting for us outside, and we woke up early to disembark on a jetty, to then take pick up trucks up to Sierra Negra Volcano. Our goal this day was to hike to the south eastern rim and beyond. The group was separated into two different options, the fist one being those who wanted to go as far as they could, closer to the place were the latest eruption happened, and the second option to hike to the rim at a calmer pace, bird-watching along the way up and down (still a decent distance of more or less three miles).
Gradually we walked to the rim of the volcano, and once we arrived everyone was stunned with the overwhelming landscape that Sierra Negra offers; an incredible experience. We enjoyed the view as well as the different species of finches that from time to time distracted us in our main purpose.
Meanwhile, a couple of people who had decided not to go up the volcano had a tour of town and back ways of Puerto Villamil down on the coast. They visited the salt-water lagoons, saw flamingos, and drove out of town along the wondrous sandy roads to the colorful cemetery where plenty of local history lies resting.
Around midday we were back on board to have our lunch and later some of the guests decided to have a nice stroll around the town, later joining the rest of the group in our visit to the breeding center. Many of the tortoises there are being protected and bred in captivity; many were almost extinct, and all of them belong to Isabella Island. In this protected area we had the chance to see various stages in the life-cycle of the Galápagos giant tortoise. The path leading out from the center towards town passed by lagoons with various wading birds, the most striking of which were the flamingos in their courtship mode!
By late afternoon we have made some friends in the town by having a beer in one of the cantinas at the peer. Great day.
