Southern Isabela, Puerto Villamil
Today was a day of contrasting options. We could take it easy, explore the coast in a Zodiac and enjoy observing blue-footed boobies, sea lions and penguins or push ourselves physically and make a 7 mile hike along the rim of a very dusty, recently active volcano. We could relax on long, lovely, white sand beach and bob in the turquoise surf, or bounce along in the back of a pickup truck as it climbed into the lush green highlands on the slopes of Sierra Negra. However, no matter how we chose to fill our day, everyone thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Puerto Villamil on Southern Isabela Island.
The “faster and further” volcano hikers plodded along until they had freshly erupted cinders and Pelee’s hair at their feet. The view of the still fuming vents and the caldera which has so recently been half filled with lava was spectacular. All of us who set out at a slower pace in the “to the rim” group made our goal: to climb to the rim and peer into the expansive caldera. We were all thankful for the fluffy white clouds and breeze that made the bright sun more bearable.
Today’s photo shows the flowers of Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius, the thin-leafed Darwin’s shrub which is one of the endemic genera of Asteracea. This shrub is found at the higher elevations on Sierra Negra: we found a second species of Darwiniothamnus at lower levels. Sadly the native and endemic vegetation on Sierra Negra is being over run by the introduced guava.
A visit to the tortoise breeding center occupied us in the afternoon. It is encouraging to learn that these giant reptiles are being successfully reared in captivity and repatriated to the wild. Some of us followed a boardwalk past brackish lagoon towards the beach and were rewarded with a great look at a few flamingoes. Others shopped for t-shirts and souvenirs, and as the afternoon cooled off, we gathered for beers, soft drinks and volleyball on the beach.
Representatives from the Friend’s of the Tortoises Club gave us a presentation following my briefing about tomorrow’s upcoming visit to Floreana. Jaime and Eduardo explained that their club strives to educate the locals about the need to protect the giant tortoises. We feel comforted knowing that the future of these islands is in the hands of these conservation minded young folks. Tonight we will sleep well – many of us got a good dose of exercise and the rest of us are nicely relaxed.
Today was a day of contrasting options. We could take it easy, explore the coast in a Zodiac and enjoy observing blue-footed boobies, sea lions and penguins or push ourselves physically and make a 7 mile hike along the rim of a very dusty, recently active volcano. We could relax on long, lovely, white sand beach and bob in the turquoise surf, or bounce along in the back of a pickup truck as it climbed into the lush green highlands on the slopes of Sierra Negra. However, no matter how we chose to fill our day, everyone thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Puerto Villamil on Southern Isabela Island.
The “faster and further” volcano hikers plodded along until they had freshly erupted cinders and Pelee’s hair at their feet. The view of the still fuming vents and the caldera which has so recently been half filled with lava was spectacular. All of us who set out at a slower pace in the “to the rim” group made our goal: to climb to the rim and peer into the expansive caldera. We were all thankful for the fluffy white clouds and breeze that made the bright sun more bearable.
Today’s photo shows the flowers of Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius, the thin-leafed Darwin’s shrub which is one of the endemic genera of Asteracea. This shrub is found at the higher elevations on Sierra Negra: we found a second species of Darwiniothamnus at lower levels. Sadly the native and endemic vegetation on Sierra Negra is being over run by the introduced guava.
A visit to the tortoise breeding center occupied us in the afternoon. It is encouraging to learn that these giant reptiles are being successfully reared in captivity and repatriated to the wild. Some of us followed a boardwalk past brackish lagoon towards the beach and were rewarded with a great look at a few flamingoes. Others shopped for t-shirts and souvenirs, and as the afternoon cooled off, we gathered for beers, soft drinks and volleyball on the beach.
Representatives from the Friend’s of the Tortoises Club gave us a presentation following my briefing about tomorrow’s upcoming visit to Floreana. Jaime and Eduardo explained that their club strives to educate the locals about the need to protect the giant tortoises. We feel comforted knowing that the future of these islands is in the hands of these conservation minded young folks. Tonight we will sleep well – many of us got a good dose of exercise and the rest of us are nicely relaxed.
