Galapagos Day 6 - Sierra Negra and Volcan Chico

Buenas Dias! This morning we took a grueling hike around the rim of Sierra Negra and to the top of the Volcan Chico (two of the active volcanoes on Isabela Island). It was grueling because there was a semi pleasant, but cold mist all morning, we hiked through some wicked mud (And ruined our shoes) and of course we went a total of 10 miles....did I mention to the top of a volcano? 

So we start the hike going through almost jungle-like thick vegetation. Ferns, guava plants, and moss covered trees were all around the trail....and you recall the cold mist. It was really wild....we were expecting to see a dinosaur around every turn! As we climbed higher out of the muck and lush greenery, we passed several lookouts into the crater of Sierra Negra, but the mist and clouds that we were hiking in completely obscured the view. Eventually, the landscape slowly changed into dry scrubby plants and cactus and we began walking on dry, solid ground!

After some time, we started to get higher than the clouds and mist and we could actually see Sierra Negra’s crater. Sierra Negra means Black Mountain in Spanish and it is the largest active volcanic crater in the world. It is 6 miles across and so big that whenever it erupts, all of the magma and lava is contained within the crater so that is can be viewed quite closely. Our guide actually showed us pictures from its last eruption in 2005. We could see the eastern side of the crater was barren and black since the last eruption happened on that side. The rest of the crater, which was only marginally disturbed by the last eruption had all kinds of vegetation and life.

We continued to hike along the rim of Sierra Negra, getting closer and closer to Volcan Chico, which is actually a series of volcanic peaks but is considered one volcano. The last time Volcan Chico erupted was in 1979. We could actually see exactly where the lava stopped flowing because again it was completely barren and black rock in all of the areas that the lava touched in 1979. The area around it was brownish and covered in scrubby vegetation. It was so different than the volcano that we saw last year in Indonesia. (and the wind was not threatening to blow us off the volcano today!)

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As we neared the peak, the lava had begun to be oxidized by the elements (the type of lava here contains a lot of iron) and was swirling with coppers, reds, whites, and browns. Did I mention the view? We could see Elizabeth Bay and in the far distance just make out Fernandina Island. It was spectacular! The lava formations were so interesting and looked like bridges, a waterfall and other unusual things that were formed as the lava hardened. 

Then we hiked back down through the dry shrubs and back into the muck and mist. At one point Jeremy said “I guess this is where they got the name Sierra Mist” :)

Then we got back to the hotel, pitched our ruined sneakers, and then took a shower and a nap. We woke up and walked a quick nature trail, saw another flamingo, and more of those crazy marine iguanas. Now we are eating Ceviche  (after having popcorn as an appetizer) and thinking of going to bed early. Tomorrow is our last full day in Galapagos and we will be snorkeling around some lava tunnels!

Thanks for following along! XO