Isabela Island, Sierra Negra and Villamil
The double cabin pick-ups were waiting for us out front the Port Captain’s building. We hopped in and headed up into the cool highlands of Sierra Negra Volcano. There was a fine mist as we climbed in altitude up to almost 2900 feet. The clouds overhead were thick, but as we started our walk up a gradual incline through lush vegetation, following a dirt footpath, we finally walked our way out from under the clouds and the blue sky appeared above. After a mile or so, stopping occasionally to watch woodpecker finches and brief glimpses of the vermillion flycatcher, we made the rim of the crater and could look down into the enormous caldera which has been so recently half-covered by lava. Several fumaroles still released clouds of sulphur-rich vapour in widely-spaced vents on the floor of the crater. There were already areas around them of a pale yellow and white colour. Some of us continued at a fast pace following the rim trail, reaching a look-out vantage point where Pele’s Hair covered the ground. Meanwhile, the rest returned for more birding along the road down the outer slopes toward the coast.
After lunch on board, it was another outing, but this time a quick ride along the soft, sandy roads of the town of Villamil to visit the tortoise-raising center operated by the Galápagos National Park (not the “Tortoise Racing Center” by the way…although that brings to mind a novel way to raise money for this conservation project…).
By the time we had finished, virtually everyone was ready for a relaxing couple of hours on the extensive, white beach of Villamil. Cold beers or coconut water were the beverages of choice between dips in the Pacific Ocean a few feet away.
Tonight we were fortunate to hear from some of the local members of the “Friends of the Tortoise Club,” invited on board to tell us about conservation projects they are involved with in town.
Wow! We’ve had a full day! Massages are in order…
The double cabin pick-ups were waiting for us out front the Port Captain’s building. We hopped in and headed up into the cool highlands of Sierra Negra Volcano. There was a fine mist as we climbed in altitude up to almost 2900 feet. The clouds overhead were thick, but as we started our walk up a gradual incline through lush vegetation, following a dirt footpath, we finally walked our way out from under the clouds and the blue sky appeared above. After a mile or so, stopping occasionally to watch woodpecker finches and brief glimpses of the vermillion flycatcher, we made the rim of the crater and could look down into the enormous caldera which has been so recently half-covered by lava. Several fumaroles still released clouds of sulphur-rich vapour in widely-spaced vents on the floor of the crater. There were already areas around them of a pale yellow and white colour. Some of us continued at a fast pace following the rim trail, reaching a look-out vantage point where Pele’s Hair covered the ground. Meanwhile, the rest returned for more birding along the road down the outer slopes toward the coast.
After lunch on board, it was another outing, but this time a quick ride along the soft, sandy roads of the town of Villamil to visit the tortoise-raising center operated by the Galápagos National Park (not the “Tortoise Racing Center” by the way…although that brings to mind a novel way to raise money for this conservation project…).
By the time we had finished, virtually everyone was ready for a relaxing couple of hours on the extensive, white beach of Villamil. Cold beers or coconut water were the beverages of choice between dips in the Pacific Ocean a few feet away.
Tonight we were fortunate to hear from some of the local members of the “Friends of the Tortoise Club,” invited on board to tell us about conservation projects they are involved with in town.
Wow! We’ve had a full day! Massages are in order…
