Sierra Negra Volcano and Puerto Villamil
When I came on deck early this morning, I guessed that we would have a wet hike up the slopes of Sierra Negra. As the Captain ordered “fondo!” and our boson dropped the anchor, I searched the shoreline and was barely even able to see the coconut palms and low buildings of Puerto Villamil. Thick garua clouds and heavy, very wet mist hid the town almost completely from view. While we had breakfast the garua lifted slightly; those who were headed up the volcano this morning, disembarked just before 8:00am. I loaded only ten to each Zodiac and our skilled and cautious pangueros took us in to the main dock through big swells and reefs where the waves were breaking.
We boarded pickup taxis, and those who chose to sit on the hard wooden benches in the pick up beds, were baptized by the constant garua drizzle. The hike was wet, slippery and muddy especially for the “faster and further” hikers who descended by the horse trail. Some of the kids were mud covered from head to toe! But it was worth the effort for the experience of hiking along the rim of a recently active volcano, and we enjoyed birding (highlights were the woodpecker finch, female vermillion flycatchers, small tree and warbler finches) and admiring the many species of ferns. Magically, the garua lifted, a rainbow shimmered and we had a 10 minute view of the huge caldera.
The guests who chose to explore Villamil and surroundings went by Zodiac with Naturalist Daniel to “Tintoreras” where they found resting white tip sharks and then by taxi to the Wall of Tears. For them it was both an interesting and relaxing morning.
After lunch and siesta, both of which were especially appreciated today by all of us who had hiked Sierra Negra, we visited the Tortoise Breeding Center of the National Park. It is extremely encouraging to learn that rare races of giant tortoises are being raised and then repatriated to the wild. Later on board the ship we enjoyed a presentation given by the young leaders of Friends of the Tortoise club. We were rocked to sleep by swells that swept across the harbor.
When I came on deck early this morning, I guessed that we would have a wet hike up the slopes of Sierra Negra. As the Captain ordered “fondo!” and our boson dropped the anchor, I searched the shoreline and was barely even able to see the coconut palms and low buildings of Puerto Villamil. Thick garua clouds and heavy, very wet mist hid the town almost completely from view. While we had breakfast the garua lifted slightly; those who were headed up the volcano this morning, disembarked just before 8:00am. I loaded only ten to each Zodiac and our skilled and cautious pangueros took us in to the main dock through big swells and reefs where the waves were breaking.
We boarded pickup taxis, and those who chose to sit on the hard wooden benches in the pick up beds, were baptized by the constant garua drizzle. The hike was wet, slippery and muddy especially for the “faster and further” hikers who descended by the horse trail. Some of the kids were mud covered from head to toe! But it was worth the effort for the experience of hiking along the rim of a recently active volcano, and we enjoyed birding (highlights were the woodpecker finch, female vermillion flycatchers, small tree and warbler finches) and admiring the many species of ferns. Magically, the garua lifted, a rainbow shimmered and we had a 10 minute view of the huge caldera.
The guests who chose to explore Villamil and surroundings went by Zodiac with Naturalist Daniel to “Tintoreras” where they found resting white tip sharks and then by taxi to the Wall of Tears. For them it was both an interesting and relaxing morning.
After lunch and siesta, both of which were especially appreciated today by all of us who had hiked Sierra Negra, we visited the Tortoise Breeding Center of the National Park. It is extremely encouraging to learn that rare races of giant tortoises are being raised and then repatriated to the wild. Later on board the ship we enjoyed a presentation given by the young leaders of Friends of the Tortoise club. We were rocked to sleep by swells that swept across the harbor.
