CARNIVAL

Carnival consists of music all day on the beach with several food tents set up. All day people swim, hang out on the beach, eat good food often coming from stalls put up just for the celebration. They serve everything from oyster empanadas to fresh ceviche. Part of the islands tradition is for the children to have a foam party and they bring along powder paint and throw it at anyone willing to be decorated. Taking part in this allowed us to see how much we had become part of the local community and were the only westerners who would take part in the paint throwing.  

CAMPING ON SIERRA NEGRA

I was lucky enough to get invited by some locals to go camping at a farm house in Sierra Negra. It was an incredible experience to spend the day up in the highlands, talking to locals that live up there and see how they live. The transition from the town to highlands is huge and this even includes the legal difference. In the highlands they are allowed to have animals as most of the endemic species are in the area near the town, as a result many farms have chickens roaming free. Both the sunrise and sunset are incredible and foliage changes from being dry to luscious and green. 

FLYING OVER THE ISLANDS

Taking the light aircraft to another island leaves you with unparalleled views of the bay. I took the plane over to San Cristobal and got this fantastic view of Tortuga and islet where I snorkelled and had the opportunity to dive with an orca!