Sierra Negro

We explored Sierra Negra volcano on Isla Isabela today, by bus, foot and horseback.

Photo 1: Our bus to Sierra Negro

Once at the end of the road, it was a slog up the mountain on foot rather than horseback because it was very wet underfoot, very muddy and very slippery, too dangerous for the horses. Once at the top a huge crater full of mist awaited us so it was onward around the rim until the mist lifted. Lift it did revealing a 10 kilometre diameter steep sided flat bottomed crater partly vegetated and partly black basaltic lava flows from the last eruption in 2005.

Photo 2: Map of Sierra Negro

Photo 3: Recent lava flow against the edge of Calderra

We enjoyed a horseback ride along the flat rim track which at this point wasn’t right on the edge of a long drop into the crater bottom below.

Photo 4: Ross taking instructions

The ride was far too short, being replaced by easier walking on the lava flows outside the crater towards 6 or 7 parasitic cones to observe the ash fields and feel hot gases escaping from fumaroles in the lava, reminding us that this volcano is still active.

Photo 5: View of the lava from the edge of the caldera with guide in the foreground

Photo 6: Chico parasitic cone

Photo 7: Ross at Chico

Lunch and the short horse ride and long slog through the mud to our bus followed. About six hours walking total in these wet conditions, but what a view.

Photo 8: Ross walking through the mud with shoes in hand

Once back in Puerto Villamil we visited a Galapagos Penguin rookery by Panga and snorkelled in the gentle swell outside the harbour among large schools of brightly coloured fish. There were also White Tipped Sharks and Rays in the lava tunnels underwater and Green Turtles.

Next was Las Tintoreras Islet to visit Penguins, a Sea Iguana nursery and nesting site, Sea Lions and the highlight was a long shallow narrow channel between lava walls where tens of White Tipped Sharks known locally as “Tintoreras” rest in the afternoon before hunting at night. These sharks can be so easily observed from directly above on the path on top of one lava wall, perhaps 3 -5 metres away, it outshines any aquarium.

Arrived back at Salacia to find Rachael (a young female sea lion) stretched out on the cockpit cushion in the sun, totally unafraid. Needless to say she was given short shift.