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View of the salt marsh from the hotel rooftop. The Sierra Negra volcano is mostly under cloud cover toward the left in the background.

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The best way to greet the day - morning coffee with a view!

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Start of a hike in the Galapagos highlands up to the rim of the Sierra Negra caldera, the second largest intact caldera in the world after Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania measuring five by six miles.

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Bird spotting! Probably a finch :> It is quite a skill to not only be able to catch a finch through the binoculars, but to also be able to identify which of the dozen or so species it is! (I still need lots of practice...!)

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Looking across the lava-filled caldera

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The group (L-R): Steve, Pam, Toby, Sandy, Alicia, Alfredo, Tom, Suzanne, and us!

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Across the way is where the Sierra Negra most recently erupted in 2005. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos.

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From the caldera rim trail, a view of the lowlands of Isabela

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Hiking along the caldera rim

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Approaching Volcan Chico which erupted creating a lava landscape about 30 years ago

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...but first, a brief rest to visit with some friends! A Darwin finch...

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and a yellow warbler.

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These hiking shoes have been the best!

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The landscape changes so quickly, from lush and green to rocky and desolate...

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This collapsed lava tube must collect enough water for plants to get established.

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Bigger lava tube

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Lone candelabra cactus

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With the clouds rolling in, the landscape looks eerie and mysterious...

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Spatter cone

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Winding lava tube

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Even though the eruption that formed this lava field occurred 30 years ago, very little has started growing here.

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A definite line demarcating a more recent lava flow from an older one.

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Another pair of awesome hiking shoes...?!

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This is pahoehoe lava, less gaseous and more ropy and undulating.

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More pahoehoe lava

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Surfing a tidal wave of lava! (Looks like Giselle's going to wipe-out first!)

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The fog started rolling in and visibility was extremely reduced so we started hiking back.

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A yellow warbler singin' in the rain

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A male vermillion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus)

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We had an amazing lunch -- chicken and rice baked in this lava stone oven!

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The farm had tortoises!

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And very large trees! This one had a barn owl living in it :>

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A papaya tree

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This is the Galapagos eggplant...!! We're pretty sure the Galapagos Easter Bunny must live nearby too.

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Relaxing in the back of the bus, after a day well-spent!

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Another sunset view from the hotel rooftop

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