Located slap bang on the equatorial line, Isabela Island offers a great many attractions for travelers, and it is a common visitor destination within the Galapagos Islands. It is frequently, though not always visited on Galapagos Islands cruises. It is best not to assume that your cruise will visit Isabela Island, since not all cruises go to the western islands of Isabela and Fernandina. It is however, one of the easiest islands to access, given that there is an airport, and flights are possible between this island and Santa Cruz Island as well as San Cristobal. There are also a limited range of ferry options between Isabela and Santa Cruz. Visiting this island is well worth the effort, with plenty to see and do!
Isabela Island is one of the Western Isles of the Galapagos Islands. It is the largest of all the islands covering 1803 miles square (4670 kilometers square). It is shaped somewhat like a seahorse. The island is made up of six volcanoes, namely Ecuador, Wolf, Darwin, Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, and all but one of these (Ecuador) are still active. Wolf Volcano has the highest altitude in the whole of the Galapagos Islands at 5,600 feet (1,707 meters) above sea level. Isabela Island is comprised of a number of lava fields where soil is insufficient to support vegetation. However, farming is still an important activity on Isabela, as are fishing and tourism.
It is possible to visit Isabela Island on Galapagos Islands cruises, however, land-based trips in the Galapagos islands are also sometimes based on Isabela Island.
Travelers interested in exploring Isabela Island have more than one rewarding way to experience its landscapes and wildlife. A land-based program such as the Active Galapagos Multisport allows visitors to stay on the island while discovering volcanic trails, beaches, and coastal areas through hiking, biking, and kayaking at a flexible pace. At the same time, cruise itineraries aboard vessels like the Sea Star Journey luxury yacht include guided landings and snorkeling stops on Isabela as part of a broader route through the archipelago, offering the chance to see the island in connection with other diverse Galapagos environments. Both approaches provide meaningful ways to experience Isabela depending on whether travelers prefer to explore from land or as part of a multi-day voyage at sea.
The geological history of Isabela Island differs from most of the other islands because it was formed as a result of six shield volcanoes joining with one another above sea level. Isabela Island is much younger than other islands to the east, such as San Cristobal. This island may not be millions of years old and may in fact, only be hundreds of thousands of years old.
The island was initially given the name of Albemarle Island, after the Duke of Albemarle, and was renamed to Isabela later. There are records of pirates and buccaneers utilizing Tagus Cove on the island for shelter. However, Isabela Island was first colonized by people in 1893, starting with Puerto Villamil, in the south. Santo Tomas was founded later.
As a large island with several visitor sites, Isabela has a number of interesting highlights for visitors to look out for on their trips. These include:
Las Tintoreras Islet – Las Tintoreras is comprised of a number of islets that are reached by boat from the coast. There can be some good opportunities to see a range of wildlife here, including sea lions, sharks, sea turtles, rays and marine iguanas, among others. The clear waters provide for some super snorkeling opportunities.
Sierra Negra volcano visit – The Sierra Negra volcano can be visited through hiking or horseback riding. Both options allow the chance to take in the fantastic landscapes formed by relatively recent volcanic activity.
Elizabeth Bay – located on the east of Isabela Island, this visitor site is a large, sweeping bay formation with mangroves. This makes it a fascinating visit for snorkeling, especially given the crystalline waters here. Wildlife that may be spotted include penguins, blue footed boobies, herons, rays, sea turtles whales and sharks. This visitor site is reached by dinghy.
Giant Tortoise breeding center – the Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise breeding center is likely to be a highlight for those that love tortoises. Here it is possible to see a lot of tortoises at all stages of the lifespan and to learn about conservation of the various species.
A vast array of wildlife can be found on Isabela Island, including a number of endemic species. Endemic species include the pink land iguana, the mangrove finch and certain types of Galapagos tortoises. Wildlife to look out for on a trip to Isabela Island includes:
Flightless cormorants – unusually, this species of bird is unable to fly, as the name suggests. However, they are expert swimmers as visitors may very well observe.
Galapagos penguins – this small species of penguin can be found in the waters around the island. They can sometimes be seen diving for food while visitors are snorkeling. They are found the furthest north of all penguin species.
Land iguanas – this herbivorous creature can be found in drier areas of the island and can be recognized due to their yellowish color.
Marine iguanas – there are sizeable colonies of this lizard at various visitor sites around the island and especially around Puerto Villamil and Albemarle Point, as well as on Tintoreras.
Giant tortoise – various species of giant tortoise can be found on Isabela Island. Some visitors to Isabela go to the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center to find out more about this species and see tortoise babies.
Aside from the above-mentioned creatures, birdlife that can be spotted on and around Isabela Island includes Galapagos hawk, herons, pelicans, boobies, Galapagos dove and finches. Other animal species that are seen with relative frequency include rays, sharks, sea turtles, Sally Lightfoot crabs, lava lizards and of course sea lions.
There are a multitude of activities to keep visitors busy at Isabela Island. As with many of the other islands, walking on nature trails at visitor sites is an interesting activity, permitting visitors to observe an array of different wildlife close up and personal. For example, at some of the sites such as Urbina Bay, giant tortoises and land iguanas can be seen, as can flightless cormorants.
Similarly, birdwatching is another fascinating activity on Isabela Island. For this option, Tagus Cove is usually excellent. Here, yellow warblers, hawks and fly catchers can often be observed. This is also a good place for seeing a range of different types of finches.
Hiking and horseback riding are also possible on Isabela Island, in the area of the Sierra Negra volcano. These activities can make an interesting break from visiting the many visitor sites and can allow the traveler to get to experience a bit more of the landscape at the interior of this island.
The Wall of Tears is a sightseeing activity of interest, though it has a sad history. Between 1945 and 1959 there was a penal colony on Isabela Island, and prisoners were obligated to build a large stone wall of 65 feet (25 meters) high. The end result was the Wall of Tears, known as such because many of the prisoners died during this time. A visit to this site can be undertaken on foot, and the walk is 4 miles (6 kilometers).
There are also a range of other visitor sites including Moreno Point with its lagoons and birdwatching opportunities and Villamil Lagoons where migratory birds can be viewed. Punta Vincente Roca is home to a wide variety of marine life and nesting birds, while Mariela Islets (near to Elizabeth Bay) is a good spot for seeing the Galapagos penguin. Albemarle Point boasts a former World War II radar base.
There are quite a variety of hotels on Isabela Island and the vast majority of these are in, or close to, Puerto Villamil on the southern coast of the island. Exceptions include Scalesia Lodge and Campo Duro Ecolodge, both of which being closer to the settlement of Santo Tomas. There are some very good high-end accommodations and also some decent options for those on a tighter budget. However, there are not too many hotels in the mid-price range.
Similarly to the situation with hotels on Isabela Island, most of the restaurants can be found in or around Puerto Villamil. Visitors can find food choices to suit most preferences here, from Ecuadorian food through to Mexican, Italian, Latin, fusion, seafood and good, reliable pub-style food. It should be noted that not all restaurants have vegetarian options, and fewer still have vegan and gluten-free options, though these can be found.
