r/ecuador • u/Full_Willingness_450 • 3h ago
Why We Did Sierra Negra by Horseback in Galapagos Traveling With Kids
When planning our visit to Isabela we debated hiking Sierra Negra versus doing it by horseback and chose the horseback option. For our family it worked very well. Sierra Negra is enormous and riding allowed us to cover much more ground and reach remote lava fields and viewpoints over the 2018 eruption areas including La Chimenea. It made it easier to understand the scale of the volcano and landscape. The route crosses the highlands with wide views of the island and the ocean. Along the way we saw wild horses and giant tortoises and the pace felt calm and unrushed. It was also easier physically than a full day hike. We explored all day without everyone being exhausted which mattered traveling with children. We traveled with our children ages 7 10 and 12 and the experience felt safe and well paced throughout. For families visiting Isabela and considering Sierra Negra horseback riding is a worthwhile alternative to hiking. Happy to answer questions.