I took this as an opportunity not to miss and headed out with them to experience the Sulphur Mines. This is a trip which is possible as part of a tour, but needs to be booked with an agency and is usually completed in a day, although the hike is a long way it is definitely worth it if your fitness allows.
For the students from the University of Miami this is a special trip and marks the end of the semester abroad – the trip is taken over 2 days and the night is spent camping on the edge of Sierra Negra. Embarking on the overnight camping trip to the Minas de Azufre, an incredible sulphur mine about an 8 mile hike west around the edge of Sierra Negra. The other side of the caldera is less commonly visited by tourists but gives you incredible views of the Sulphur Mine billowing in the wind and the white fumes escaping from the ground.
The trail begins at the same place as for Volcan Chico, and but it heads across the western side of Sierra Negra. The hike begins with an ascent up a rocky path for about an hour, although it was long and hot the view from the edge of the volcano into the caldera is breathtaking. You emerge from a path lined with trees and shrubbery to find the vast expanse of Sierra Negra’s caldera before your very eyes and the hike before is soon a distant memory. The caldera is filled with black lava rock, the trap-door fault is in front of you and there’s even a fumarole in site.
We continued along the path which soon disappeared, becoming overgrown and then we were clearing ferns taller than us from the track and finding our way – talking to the guide he said the tour isn’t as popular due to its intensity and distance but when you arrive its rewarding and incredible. This fuelled us on we wanted to reach the Minas de Azufre camp site before sunset so we could watch the sunset over Cerro Azul, the neighbouring volcano. After another hour of hiking we came to a sign for the sulphur mines we had reached tonights camp site the horses were yet to arrive so we left our bags and headed straight for a viewpoint where we could enjoy the sunset. View’s over either side were spectacular and the students discussed geology and the interesting geological formations of Sierra Negra which lay before them. Sitting up high we were able to witness the most incredible sunset over the volcano – the colours and light were amazing and we all sat there in awe enjoying the unique experience.
Tents were pitched and we were fed an incredible dinner cooked by Felipe we all decided this was one of the best meals we had eaten during our time in the Galapagos! Settling down for the night we were exhausted from the hike and lay in our tents listening to the sounds of Sierra Negra. Waking up early we decided that the best thing to do would be to see the sunrise over the caldera and this was worth it. Alarms set we headed back to the view point and waited and sure enough the sunrise was beautiful. The colours looked like a painting changing from deep purple, to bright corals and then the sky turned a deep blue and we headed in search of breakfast. Back at the campsite we ate, filled our water bottles, packed our tents and then we began our descent into the caldera.
The descent was steep and taking the path single file we dropped down further and further into the volcano. The hour descent seemed to pass quickly and soon we saw the large boulders and fumes of the sulphur mine ahead. Reaching the sulphur mine is like arriving on a different planet – the bright yellow colour and smoking fumes escaping from a crevice in the ground is amazing. Looking from above your don’t get an idea of the scale of the mines until you’re there and see how vast the expanse is. It is definitely worth bringing a banana and sunglasses so you can shield yourself from the fumes as it can become very overpowering. We spent time exploring the sulphur mines and climbed further up so we could get closer to some of the larger fumaroles. The smell is a little overpowering at first but once you overcome this you can really enjoy the scene around you – its like being on a movie set with smoking billowing from the ground and the landscape yellow and grey stands out next to the black lava rock in the caldera.
We began the journey back it was an hour ascent which was tough and passing through the meter high ferns and plants on our way back to the campsite was hot and we could feel the humidity increase as we passed through particularly thick areas of the vegetation. Our bags packed and the horses loaded up we grabbed our backpacks and began the journey back – although the hike back felt long and our legs tired from the hike the previous day and the trip to the sulphur mine we pushed through and made it back to the initial starting point in great time.
Our last glimpse of the crater was spectacular a bright blue day allowed views across to the other side and as a group we decided that the trip to Minas de Azufre is something we will never forget.
Georgia In The Jungle 