This morning we made the easy climb to the rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano. When we arrived the caldera was entirely obscured by clouds. We waited for some time and our patience was rewarded. The clouds cleared long enough to reveal the full extent of the crater and to take a group photo. Included are the other members of our tour and our guide.

Before the climb, while still near the shore, we had an opportunity to view several sharks the way I like to most.  Them in the water and me on land. 

By now marine iguanas have become quite commonplace.  Even so, coming across a couple of hundred juveniles was quite a treat.

Our afternoon excursion took us to the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center and Wetlands where 5 different varieties of giant tortoises are bred. The effort is an attempt to prevent the loss of these species which have been at risk for some time.  Our tortoise encounters in the wild were certainly more exciting, but it was very interesting to see the turtles at every stage of development and in the process of being created.

The breeding center includes a wetland area traversed by a raised walkway. Here we observed flamingos and moorhens for the first time.