Sierra Negra Volcano and Villamil, Isabela Island
By eight o’clock in the morning most folks were heading towards shore to start their trek up the volcano in southern Isabela Island known as Sierra Negra. We went by pick-up truck up the slopes following a dirt road in fairly decent condition for the most part, a bit of a washboard for a few miles. But up we went, and the air became cooler, even a light mist sprinkled the windshield for a while. The scenery became greener with altitude. Farmlands passed by, and finally we arrived to the point where the footpath was the only continuing access to the rim of the caldera.
A mile and half and a woodpecker finch later (amid dozens of ground finches and yellow warblers), we made the rim of Sierra Negra Volcano and sat down to gaze at the new lava which erupted from a vent just a few short months ago. Three fumaroles were still active, sulfur deposits already building up around the fissures pale yellow.
A good number of our guests were still hiking, and would arrive much closer than we did to the point of origin. However the dawdlers had a relaxing time of it, and ambled our way back to the vehicles in time for refreshments before returning down the slopes of the volcano to town.
The afternoon provided a different sort of experience for everyone. A visit to the tortoise rearing center managed by the Galápagos National Park was followed by a walk through a native forest of Darwiniothamnusbushes, prickle pear cacti trees, Scalesia shrubs, brackish water lagoons with pintail ducks and even a couple of flamingoes, time in town, surfing with boogie boards off the stunning long white beach, and even a few beers. All this before returning home to the Islander.
Where else but in Isabela?
By eight o’clock in the morning most folks were heading towards shore to start their trek up the volcano in southern Isabela Island known as Sierra Negra. We went by pick-up truck up the slopes following a dirt road in fairly decent condition for the most part, a bit of a washboard for a few miles. But up we went, and the air became cooler, even a light mist sprinkled the windshield for a while. The scenery became greener with altitude. Farmlands passed by, and finally we arrived to the point where the footpath was the only continuing access to the rim of the caldera.
A mile and half and a woodpecker finch later (amid dozens of ground finches and yellow warblers), we made the rim of Sierra Negra Volcano and sat down to gaze at the new lava which erupted from a vent just a few short months ago. Three fumaroles were still active, sulfur deposits already building up around the fissures pale yellow.
A good number of our guests were still hiking, and would arrive much closer than we did to the point of origin. However the dawdlers had a relaxing time of it, and ambled our way back to the vehicles in time for refreshments before returning down the slopes of the volcano to town.
The afternoon provided a different sort of experience for everyone. A visit to the tortoise rearing center managed by the Galápagos National Park was followed by a walk through a native forest of Darwiniothamnusbushes, prickle pear cacti trees, Scalesia shrubs, brackish water lagoons with pintail ducks and even a couple of flamingoes, time in town, surfing with boogie boards off the stunning long white beach, and even a few beers. All this before returning home to the Islander.
Where else but in Isabela?
