Isabela is one in every of solely 4 inhabited islands you could keep on throughout a visit to the Galapagos. Of these, it’s the most suitable choice for seaside holidays and, moreover Floreana, the quietest choice as properly.
Puerto Villamil is the one main city on Isabela island. Accordingly, that is the place one can find many of the eating places, bars, outlets, tour operators, and lodging.
Notably, the city has been constructed alongside a pristine expanse of tropical white sand seaside recognized appropriately as Playa Puerto Villamil. This proximity to the seaside is the explanation some vacationers favor Isabela island to the extra well-liked choices.
On this final information to Isabela Island, you’ll study the whole lot you want to know on your first go to to the island. This consists of info on easy methods to get there, the place to remain, the place to eat, what to see and do, and a lot extra.
All costs and knowledge are correct as of our latest go to in April 2023.
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🦎 Isabela Island Ideas & Overview
Earlier than you dive into the precise particulars of the place to go and what to do in Isabela, chances are you’ll need to familiarize your self with a few of the fundamentals.
Beneath is a fast snapshot of what to anticipate from the island and our high tricks to know earlier than visiting.
Isabela Island Overview
| Inhabitants | ~2000 |
| Most important City | Puerto Villamil |
| Airport | Isabela Galapagos Airport (JBQ) *inter-island flights solely, no mainland service |
| Get There | Inter-island flights and ferry from Santa Cruz or San Cristobal. |
| Recognized For | Finest Galapagos island for seaside holidays. Quiet island with adequate vacationer providers. |
| Highlights | Playa Isabela, Concha de Perla, Las Tintoreras, Volcan Sierra Negra |
Map of Isabela Galapagos
We’ve put collectively a Google Map of all of the locations talked about on this Isabela Island weblog submit. You may click on right here to open the map of Isabela, or click on on the picture under.
Prime Ideas for Visiting Isabela Island
| Carry Money | Most companies solely settle for money and ATMs are unreliable in Galapagos. |
| Web & WiFi | Free WiFi is accessible in lots of locations however could be very gradual in Galapagos. |
| Cell Service | Cell service is patchy, however knowledge may be extra dependable than WiFi in predominant cities. Claro gives one of the best protection on the islands and SIM playing cards are cheaper to purchase on mainland Ecuador previous to flying out. |
| Sunscreen | Sunscreen on the islands could be very costly and the solar is powerful, so make sure to carry loads with you. Guarantee you’re utilizing reef-safe sunscreen to guard the unbelievable marine life. |
| Excursions | It can save you some cash by reserving excursions if you arrive on the islands. Nonetheless, you danger the preferred excursions being offered out. Think about reserving on-line, or at the least prepare your excursions as quickly as you arrive. |
| Ferries | You’ll possible be touring between islands utilizing the inter-island ferry. These usually promote out prematurely, so you’ll want to take into account reserving tickets on-line prematurely. Tickets price $30 on island or $35 on-line prematurely. |
✈️ The way to Get to Isabela
There aren’t any direct flights to Isabela Island from outdoors of the Galapagos archipelago.
Accordingly, the one solution to get to Isabela island is to first fly into Santa Cruz or San Cristobal, then take an inter-island flight or ferry the remainder of the best way.
Attending to Isabela From Mainland Ecuador
There are solely two cities on the earth with direct flights to the Galapagos islands, and each are situated on mainland Ecuador. These cities are Quito and Guayaquil.
You don’t want any reservations, guides, or permits to fly to the Galapagos, however you’ll need to buy an INGALA Vacationer Management Card (TCT) from a devoted desk on the airport previous to departing from the mainland. This prices simply $20 and takes about quarter-hour.
Additionally, you will need to have money prepared upon arrival within the Galapagos to pay the $100 per particular person entry charge.
From Quito or Guayaquil, you’ll be able to fly into San Cristobal (SCY) or Santa Cruz / Baltra (GPS) within the Galapagos. The easiest way to get to Isabela from right here is dependent upon which island you’re touring from:
- From Santa Cruz: Take the brief inter-island ferry.
- From San Cristobal: Take an inter-island flight.
Attending to Isabela By Airplane
There’s a small airport on Isabela island, however it is just accessible for inter-island flights from Santa Cruz or San Cristobal.
In case you are touring to Isabela from San Cristobal, we advocate flying as the choice is to take two separate ferries and lose a whole day. The aircraft prices a bit extra, however is fairly priced and comes with the good thing about having a scenic flight over the gorgeous Galapagos archipelago.
In case you are touring to Isabela from Santa Cruz, we advocate taking the ferry. The ferry is cheaper than a flight, requires the same general time dedication, and departs from city relatively than from the distant island of Baltra (the place the Santa Cruz airport resides). Flights are an choice, nonetheless, for these .
🏝 FIND OUT MORE:
COMPLETE GUIDE TO GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING
Attending to Isabela By Ferry
The most typical solution to get to Isabela Island is to take the ferry from Puerto Ayora, which is the primary city on Santa Cruz. From right here, the ferry is simply about 2-2.5 hours and prices solely $30 regionally, or $35 on-line prematurely.
You can find ferry tickets accessible from San Cristobal to Isabela, however there are literally two separate journeys required for this journey. The primary is the morning ferry journey from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz, and the second is the afternoon ferry from Santa Cruz to Isabela.
There isn’t any direct ferry between San Cristobal and Isabela that doesn’t cease at Santa Cruz.
Ferrying from San Cristobal to Isabela will devour a whole day, so our advice is to keep away from this in favor of the inter-island flight, if doable.
🚕 The way to Get Round Isabela Island
The easiest way to get round Isabela Island is by strolling! The entire lodging and vacationer providers for the island are situated within the city of Puerto Villamil, which is situated straight adjoining to the seaside.
From the place you’ll be staying in Puerto Villamil, the entire main sights and the start line for excursions shall be inside straightforward strolling distance.
For a few of the distant locations chances are you’ll want to go to, there are buses and inexpensive taxis accessible, in addition to bicycle leases for the really adventurous.
There aren’t any automotive leases accessible within the Galapagos islands.
🏠 The place to Keep in Isabela
Finest Areas to Keep in Isabela (Galapagos)
The world of Puerto Villamil is one of the best and solely choice you may have for staying on Isabela Island.
Even when it weren’t the one choice, it could nonetheless be the place you’d need to keep.
Puerto Villamil is constructed up straight alongside a prolonged expanse of white sand seaside that runs for two.5 miles (4km). Which means you could find inexpensive lodge rooms that actually open up onto the sand.
Along with the gorgeous seaside, Puerto Villamil can also be the place one can find the Most important Pier and most sights together with the flamingo lagoon and a number of other well-liked snorkeling spots.
Finest Resorts in Isabela (Galapagos)
| Approximate Hostel Value (mattress in a dorm room) |
Beginning at $15 |
| Approximate Price range Value (fundamental non-public room in a lodge, hostel, or homestay) |
Beginning at $30 |
| Common Midrange Value (3+ star lodge rooms and flats) |
Beginning at $70 |
| Common Luxurious Value (5-star resorts, whole properties, and villas) |
N/A |
Lodging on Isabela island is much extra restricted than on the extra well-liked Galapagos islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal.
There aren’t any luxurious or 5-star resorts on Isabela island, however one can find a adequate variety of funds and mid-range choices with upside.
For instance, there are many wonderful and inexpensive beach-front choices, reminiscent of Cormorant Seaside Home or Sandy Toes Seaside Home, in addition to boutique choices reminiscent of Chez Manany Galapagos Eco Lodge that can have a semi-luxurious really feel.
Beneath are our suggestions for top-rated resorts on Isabela Island:
📸 Finest Issues to Do in Isabela
Isabela island is greatest recognized for the pristine white sand seaside that runs parallel to city, and for the quite a few volcanoes you will note whereas exploring the island.
There are restricted actions and locations accessible that don’t require reserving a tour, however under are the entire greatest issues you are able to do on Isabela by yourself.
Following this part, you’ll uncover one of the best seashores, excursions, and day journeys to think about along with these self-guided choices.
1. Snorkel at Concha de Perla
Concha de Perla is an unbelievable snorkeling website situated subsequent to the Most important Pier on Isabela Island.
This pure pool is about amidst the mangroves. It’s house to a various inhabitants of marine life together with eagle rays and sea turtles, and even the occasional Galapagos penguin.
The platform can also be sometimes affected by sea lions and marine iguanas, making for a uniquely Galapagos expertise.
As you’ll be able to snorkel at Concha de Perla free of charge and have the prospect of some epic wildlife encounters, this charges as probably the greatest issues to do for anybody visiting Isabela Island.
2. Stroll to Flamingo Lagoon
Recognized regionally as Posada De Flamengos, this small lagoon is house to a small inhabitants of flamingos.
You aren’t capable of get very near them, however it’s fairly neat to see flamingos if you happen to by no means have earlier than.
You’ll possible cease right here on the best way to Sierra Negra if you happen to plan on mountaineering the volcano. If not, take into account simply strolling to Sendero de los Flamencos close to city as a substitute.
3. See Child Tortoises at Centro de Crianza Breeding Middle
The Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Middle (Centro de Crianza Tortugas Gigantes Arnaldo Tupiza) on Isabela Island is house to all 5 completely different subspecies of big Galapagos tortoise which might be native to Isabela.
Right here, they’re hatched and incubated as a part of a breeding program to extend the inhabitants of untamed tortoises being threatened by newly launched species and volcanic exercise.
You’ll have the chance to see numerous child tortoises in addition to a couple of adults.
4. Stroll or Bike to the Wall of Tears
The Wall of Tears (El Muro de las Lágrimas) is a 1-hour bike journey (or 2-hour stroll) every manner from Puerto Villamil.
The positioning itself is only a wall of lava rock in the midst of nowhere. So far as Galapagos sights go, it isn’t essentially the most attention-grabbing. Nonetheless, it’s price a go to if you happen to’re bodily ready and all for human historical past.
Moreover, the cycle itself is enjoyable! Alongside the best way, it’s common to identify wild Galapagos tortoises and different wildlife, plus you should have some lovely viewpoints over the coast.
5. Stroll the Sendero de los Flamencos Boardwalk
The Sendero de los Flamencos is a brief boardwalk you could stroll to from city which traces a lagoon habitat the place flamingos sometimes congregate.
You may proceed your stroll by means of the wetlands (humedales in Spanish) to seek out mangroves and Opuntia cacti.
This space is a superb place for hen watchers and you’ll see quite a lot of avian life, together with pintail geese and the critically endangered mangrove finch.
Should you proceed on to El Estero, you’ll be able to even spot the occasional Galapagos penguin!
🏝 Finest Seashores in Isabela
1. Playa Puerto Villamil (Playa Isabela)
Playa Puerto Villamil, informally often known as Playa Isabela or Isabela Seaside, is a phenomenal stretch of shoreline that extends 2.5 miles (4km) westward from the primary pier at Puerto Villamil.
That is essentially the most accessible seaside in the entire Galapagos islands and is the first purpose for selecting to remain on Isabela Island over Santa Cruz or San Cristobal.
Shade is sort of restricted, as are providers when you get previous the city limits, however there are fundamental bogs on the far finish of the seaside as properly.
2. La Playita
Appropriately named, La Playita (which interprets to “Little Seaside”) is a small sandy shoreline situated simply past the expansive, aforementioned Puerto Villamil Seaside.
The primary attraction of visiting La Playita is the seclusion. Whereas Playa Isabela will sometimes be abuzz with vacationers, those that enterprise simply 1.5 miles additional will possible uncover their very own little piece of Galapagos paradise.
There are fundamental bogs accessible close to the seaside, however make sure to carry your individual rest room paper!
3. Playa del Amor
Even additional alongside the shoreline, you’ll discover Playa del Amor.
This small seaside isn’t fairly nearly as good for stress-free or swimming because of the quantity of lava rock right here. Nonetheless, it’s a great spot for recognizing marine iguanas and for solitude.
You may also often spot sea turtles right here.
4. Playa del Embarcadero
Playa del Embarcadero is absolutely only a small patch of sand close to the pier. Nonetheless, it’s a good place to identify each sea lions and marine iguanas.
You’ll sometimes discover giant numbers of every laying within the shade of the timber across the seaside, in addition to on their solution to and from the water.
It’s best visited earlier than or after a day tour that leaves from right here, or in your solution to Concha de Perla. In any other case, you will note it as you arrive or depart by ferry from Isabela.
⛵️ Finest Day Excursions from Isabela
One of many greatest issues to do in Galapagos is to easily get pleasure from a seaside day, and Isabela is one of the best island for this. Sadly, almost each different exercise requires an official nationwide park information and/or day tour.
The next are one of the best issues to do on Isabela that require you to rearrange a tour (which means they can’t be finished by yourself).
1. Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa) Tour
Assuming you are interested in snorkeling, taking a tour of Los Tuneles is among the greatest issues to do in Galapagos and our best choice of issues to do on Isabela Island.
On this tour, you’ll discover an underwater world surrounding historical lava tunnels.
On the land, that is one of the best place in Galapagos for seeing the long-lasting blue-footed boobies up shut and private.
A bunch of attention-grabbing submarine landscapes and tons of marine life await you underwater.
Specifically, the ocean turtles listed here are extremely plentiful and it is among the few locations to reliably encounter sea horses.
2. Sierra Negra Volcano Hike
The Sierra Negra volcano hike takes you to the rim of the good caldera of a still-active volcano.
From the rim, guests will gaze throughout a black, baron panorama that abuts a lush inexperienced mountainside.
The size of the hike varies from 4-10+ miles (6-16+ km). This is dependent upon the tour you choose as some cease on the first viewpoint, whereas others proceed on to Volcan Chico.
For people who favor, there’s additionally the choice to journey horseback to Sierra Negra.
3. Las Tintoreras Tour
There are a variety of various excursions you could take to Tintoreras, so make sure to choose the one which sounds greatest to you.
These can embrace kayaking solely, snorkeling and kayaking, or a ship journey and snorkeling. Some even embrace touchdown on Tintoreras islet.
We extremely advocate reserving a tour that features snorkeling and kayaking. Reaching Tintoreras by kayak is a way more enjoyable manner of getting there, however additionally, you will need to get within the water because it’s tougher to make out the marine life out of your kayak.
Throughout the chilly season, Tintoreras is a typical spot to see Galapagos penguins. Yr-round you may have a great likelihood of seeing sea lions, turtles, white-tip reef sharks, and rays, in addition to numerous birds.
4. Sulfur Mine Tour (Minas de Azufre)
| Highlights | • Dramatic volcanic landscapes |
| Price | $80+ regionally, $100+ on-line |
| Period | Half Day |
For a few years sulfur was mined right here to be used as sulfuric acid in lots of chemical and pharmaceutical processes.
At the moment, the mines are not in use however present a singular otherworldly surroundings of inexperienced and yellow rock.
A tour to the sulfur mines begins with a 45-minute drive to the Galapagos Nationwide Park checkpoint.
From right here, you’ll hike for round 2 miles (3km) to the mines the place you’ll be able to spot sulfur emissions rising up out of fumaroles.
There may be additionally the choice to succeed in the mines by bicycle or horseback for many who favor to not hike.
5. Isla Tortuga Day Tour
Only a brief boat journey from Isabela Island is the small islet often known as Isla Tortuga or Turtle Island, supposedly named for its form relatively than inhabitants.
The snorkeling is superb for recognizing hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, blacktip reef sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, and starfish!
Additionally it is an ideal place to identify loads of seabirds, together with blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, frigate birds, and lava gulls.
6. Los 4 Hermanos & Cartago Bay
One hour by velocity boat from Isabela are 4 island rock formations often known as Los 4 Hermanos (The 4 Brothers).
This is among the greatest snorkeling spots in all of Galapagos. The deep sea website gives a excessive likelihood of seeing pelagic fish in addition to hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, and manta rays.
A day tour will even embrace a cease at Cartago Bay, which gives a sheltered space for shallow-water snorkeling. Right here you’re prone to swim with sea turtles, rays, sharks, and quite a lot of fish.
🛳️ Finest Cruise Stops on Isabela
Isabela Island is the most important of the Galapagos islands however the infrastructure outdoors of Puerto Villamil is severely missing. As such, a few of the greatest issues to do on the island can solely be finished as a part of a cruise.
The chilly currents of the Bolivar Channel between Isabela and Fernandina carry a few of the richest waters within the space. This, in flip, attracts a wealth of marine life, together with whales, dolphins, and mola-mola (sunfish).
Isabela Island is among the few islands within the Galapagos that’s house to penguins and flightless cormorants. These are most populous on the west coast of the island, in areas that guests can solely get to through cruise ship.
The perfect cruise stops on Isabela Island embrace:
- Punta Vicente Roca
- Tagus Cove
- Bahia Urbina (Urbina Bay)
- Punto Albermarle (Albermarle Level)
- Punta Moreno (Moreno Level)
- Elizabeth Bay
🍽 The place to Eat & Drink in Isabela
Whereas the eating choices are extra restricted on Isabela Island than on San Cristobal and Santa Cruz, you’ll nonetheless discover a affordable variety of locations for consuming and ingesting to suit all budgets and preferences.
As you may anticipate, native meals comes with an area price ticket (sometimes about $5 per meal), whereas European, Asian, and American fare is accessible at the same worth to what you’d pay again house.
Finest Ambiance: Royal Rock
Whereas a lot of our time within the Galapagos was spent on a self-guided journey, we joined Inspiring Ecuador for a bunch tour for our time on Isabela. Our first meal collectively was at Royal Rock Grill, which gives one of the best views and ambiance on the island.
The meals was pretty common, however the expertise is definitely worth the stroll and the costs are affordable.
Finest Native Meals: Albita Grill
The set dinner choices at Albita Grill are a wonderful choice for anybody eager to strive Ecuadorian meals and/or get pleasure from an inexpensive meal.
We ate at native eating places for many meals throughout our two weeks in Ecuador, and this was on our Prime 3 favorites for native fare. We each had the grilled fish which comes with rice, beans, plantain, salad, and juice for $7.
Our Favourite Meal: Shawarma
We had been really useful to strive Shawarma by an area in Santa Cruz and it didn’t disappoint. The truth is, we ended up consuming right here on a number of events!
The meals was nice and really low cost and supplied some much-needed different flavors to the standard choices. We tried each their burgers and shawarma and loved each.
🙋♀️ FAQs About Isabela
On this part, one can find solutions to essentially the most ceaselessly requested questions on Isabela Island within the Galapagos that first-time guests have.
Merely click on the drop-down arrows to disclose solutions.
What’s Isabela island in Galapagos recognized for?
Isabela island is one in every of solely 4 Galapagos islands you could keep on, and is greatest recognized for the pristine white sand seaside that runs alongside city, making it the best choice of islands for seaside holidays.
Different well-liked sights on Isabela island embrace Sierra Negra Volcano, Los Tuneles, Concha de Perla, the Wall of Tears, Centro de Crianza Tortoise Breeding Middle, and Las Tintoreras (seasonal nesting website for Galapagos penguins).
Is Isabela one of the best Galapagos island?
Isabela island is one of the best Galapagos island for seaside holidays particularly, however ought to in any other case solely be thought of as a secondary or tertiary choice.
Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands are a lot simpler to get to, are extra centrally situated throughout the Galapagos archipelago, and provide extra of the mandatory vacationer facilities.
Is Isabela Island in Galapagos price visiting?
In case you are already planning to remain on Santa Cruz island and have greater than per week in Galapagos, Isabela is completely price visiting and staying on for 2-3 nights.
Isabela Island boasts a extra peaceable and native expertise than the opposite inhabited islands, and gives some distinctive alternatives for mountaineering, day excursions, and wildlife encounters.
What number of days do you want for Isabela Galapagos?
You solely want about 2 days to discover Puerto Villamil and the native sights on Isabela island, however additionally, you will need to add an extra day for every day tour you want to add to your itinerary.
Among the hottest day excursions embrace hikes up Sierra Negra Volcano, snorkeling all through Los Tuneles, and visits to close by Isla Tortuga.
Are you able to keep on Isabela Island in Galapagos?
Isabela is among the 4 Galapagos islands you’ll be able to keep on in a single day, however can solely be reached by taking an inter-island flight or ferry from Santa Cruz or San Cristobal.
Companies and lodging are extra restricted on Isabela than on different islands and will solely be thought of as a secondary or tertiary choice for a Galapagos trip.
The islands you’ll be able to keep on, so as of recognition and inhabitants, are:
- Santa Cruz
- San Cristobal
- Isabela
- Floreana
What’s one of the best ways to get round Isabela Island within the Galapagos?
Strolling or renting a motorcycle is one of the best ways to get round Isabela Island. The entire main providers reminiscent of resorts, bars, and eating places on Isabela are situated within the city of Puerto Villamil, lots of that are constructed proper onto the seaside!
For a few of the distant locations chances are you’ll want to go to, there are buses and inexpensive taxis accessible, in addition to bicycle leases.
Automotive leases usually are not accessible in any of the Galapagos islands.
Are you able to stroll round Isabela Galapagos?
Puerto Villamil is the one main city on Isabela island and may be simply explored by strolling or biking.
Many of the well-liked sights on Isabela that aren’t inside strolling distance of Puerto Villamil require a ship/tour to succeed in.
📚 Extra Galapagos Journey Guides
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Now that you know the way many days you’ll need on your Galapagos trip, it’s time for the remainder of your planning!
These guides will aid you by means of the method step-by-step, offering perception on the whole lot from discovering flights to high actions and a lot extra.
💬 Ultimate Ideas
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