Day 1 in Isabela Island

Welcome to Isabela Island! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the town of Puerto Villamil, the main port town on the southeastern edge of Isabela Island. Take a stroll along the sandy streets and find a café or restaurant here, or down by the beach to enjoy some lunch. After lunch, get your bearings and head down to the beach. The main beach here is Playa Puerto Villamil that stretches for roughly 2 miles covered in soft white sand with clear blue waters lapping onshore.

There is a road running parallel to the beach lined by hotels and shops, do some shopping and pick up some souvenirs. There is a pier off the beach, where a popular bar sits at the end, stop in and sip on some cocktails while taking in the breathtaking surroundings.

Close to pier is a wooden boardwalk that leads through the mangroves to several saltwater lagoons brimming with wildlife including flamingos. The path leads down to a small bay named ‘Concha de Perlas’, the calm waters in the bay are the perfect setting for swimming and snorkeling, the water is shallow and crystal clear making it easy to spot an abundance of sea life.

The area around Puerto Villamil, along with the rest of the island, is teeming with wildlife, you might catch a glimpse of Galapagos penguins, blue-footed bobbies, marine iguanas, sea lions, blue herons, and sally lightfoot crabs. The waters are brimming with tropical fish, white tip sharks, sea turtles, and whales, the opportunities for seeing and enjoying wildlife and nature on Isabela are endless.

There is a Tortoise Breeding Center in town where visitors can go to learn and interact with the giant tortoises that live here. The center was established in 1994 and houses Isabela Tortoises who breed here and are raised before being released into the wild.

As evening time approaches, visit Las Tintoreras, a series of small islets off the coast with a small tranquil bay, which is the perfect spot to enjoy a spectacular sunset. Enjoy dinner at one of the beachside restaurants in town and bask in the laid-back atmosphere of this magical island.

Day 2 in Isabela Island

Begin your day with a hike to the active Sierra Negra Volcano (Black Mountain), which is located 13 miles away from Puerto Villamil. The six-mile-wide hike will take visitors around the rim of the caldera which measures 300 meters deep and stands 4,500 feet above sea level. The southern side of the volcano is almost always covered by mist and fog and the entire area features rich displays of lush green vegetation. Enjoy some impressive views from the crater and explore the lava fields.

Enjoy the surroundings and a picnic, then hike further down to Volcan Chico situated on the northeast side of Sierra Negra. There are several different colored lava formations along the route and more breathtaking views of the surrounding islands.

After a busy morning of hiking head to the tranquil Urbina Bay, on the west side of Isabela in the foothills of the Alcedo and Darwin volcanos. The main attraction here is the 4 mile stretch of coral reef that rises up 16 feet out of the waters, the was the result of an uplift on the island in 1954. Enjoy the beach and bay here filled with wildlife and enjoy some lunch at a beachside cafe, see Darwin finches flying above and land iguanas sunning on the sands. Enjoy dinner by the water and watch the sunset on your last day.

Additional Days in Isabela Island

If you are able to spend additional days on Isabela Island visit Elizabeth Bay and the Las Marietas Islets which features the largest concentration of Galapagos penguins. These are some of the best parts of the island for kayaking through the mangrove-filled cove over crystal clear waters where fish, sharks, and whales can be spotted.

Tagus Cove is a historical pirate cove frequented by pirates and whalers back in the 1800s, see the carvings and paintings with names of the ships that once anchored here.

Your Last Day in Isabela Island

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.