Day 14: Isabella (Las Tintoreras and Sierra Negra) - Sunday February 4th 2018
Formed by the merging of 6 volcanos, Isabella is by far the largest of the Galapagos Islands. It lies at the western edge of the archipelago along with the nearby island of Fernandina. These are the geologically youngest and most volcanically active islands. Isabella was named after Queen Isabella of Spain; Fernandina was named after King Fernando, also of Spain. We travelled from the south-east of the Isabella along the south and west coasts over a 4 day period. Our first stop was at Las Tintoreras, a small islet in the bay of Puerto Villamil. This islet is formed of an aa (pronounced ah-ah) lava field. The lava here is black but much of has a covering of (at least 3 different species of) lichens. The jagged sharp edges of aa lava are said to give it its name - because you say "ah-ah" if you fall on it! There was a good selection of wildlife here including the Isabella subspecies of Marine Igunana (albemarlensis), which is the largest subspecies, several white-tipped reef sharks and some very playful Galapagos Sea Lions. |
After Las Tintoreras we took a panga ride to Puerto Villamil and a bus ride to Volcan Sierra Negra. From the parking area here it was a 4km hike each way to view the 9km across crater. This volcano last erupted in 2005 - and there was a warning of possible volcanic activity that prevented us walking further around the crater rim.
After lunch we visited (yet another) tortoise breeding centre (at Puerto Villamil) and then 4 of us had a nice walk along the beach looking at shorebirds and flamingos. |