Isabela Galapagos: Wildlife & Volcanoes
Bite-sized trip
✓ With few inhabitants, wildlife predominates here
✓ Snorkel with penguins, iguanas, turtles and reef sharks at Tintoreras
✓ Stay in a simple hotel in the relaxed harbour village
We recommend mixing up at least two Galapagos bite-sized trips for a more diverse experience
Day 1 – Arrival at Isla Isabela, Galapagos
If you’re flying from Guayaquil in Ecuador, it’s just a three hour flight to the famous Galapagos Islands. These islands are a paradise for wildlife spotting, but also surprisingly more inhabited than you might expect. Each island has its own charm, and three of them are inhabited: Isla Isabela, Isla Santa Cruz, and Isla San Cristobal. You could easily spend a week on each of the islands. This bite-sized trip focuses on Isla Isabela but we recommend combining it with one of the other islands for a diverse experience.
After a three-hour flight from Guayaquil, you’ll land at Santa Cruz Airport, where our local partner will be waiting for you. Jump on a bus to the port of Isla Santa Cruz and board a boat to Isla Isabela. – a journey of 2.5 hours. Once you arrive in laid-back Puerto Villamil, you’ll check into your simple hotel and have time to unwind. If you’re keen to explore, head to the harbour pier with your snorkel and dive in. You can expect to see turtles, rays, sea lions, and even diving iguanas almost immediately. Look up, and you might catch pelicans and the island’s most famous face: the blue-footed booby, a seabird with bright blue feet.
Day 2 – Snorkelling at Tintoreras
After breakfast, get ready for a few hours of incredible snorkelling. With a guide, you’ll set off by boat to the volcanic rock formations of Tintoreras, where you’ll get to snorkel with penguins. It’s one of the few places where you can see them up close and, if you’re lucky, they might even swim next to you. You’ll also spot tropical fish, iguanas, and reef sharks. If you feel like mixing things up, you can also combine the snorkelling tour with a transparent kayak tour. Let us know if you consider adding this excursion to your trip.
Day 3 – Free time on Isabela
You can choose to stay close to Puerto Villamil today. You can easily while away a day snorkelling by the harbour. Much of Isabela is protected, and so if you want to explore the island, you’ll need a guide. Here are a few suggestions that we can add to your trip.
Isabela was formed by six volcanoes. One of them is Sierra Negra, which you can visit on a guided hike (around 15 km). It’s a proper adventure across rugged terrain with stunning views. Or we can arrange mountain bike hire for you to explore on two wheels. Follow the ‘Complejo de Humedales y Muro de las Lágrimas’ trail and pass volcanic beaches like Playita and Playa del Amor, wetlands, viewpoints, and the famous ‘Wall of Tears’ (a sobering reminder of the island’s prison history). Keep your eyes peeled for giant Galápagos tortoises. You’ll see them wandering or snoozing along the way, plus plenty of other wildlife.
Day 4 – Departure from Isabela
It’s time to take the speedboat back to Isla Santa Cruz. Whether Isabela is your final stop in the Galápagos or you’re heading to more islands, you get back on the speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz. If Isabela is your final stop in the Galapagos once you reach the port, you can head straight to the airport. Or if you have more time in the Galapagos you could catch another boat to discover Isla San Cristóbal, or stick around for a few extra nights on Isla Santa Cruz.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Isabela Galapagos: Wildlife & Volcanoes - Hotel with pool
If you love this Galapagos trip but you’d prefer to stay in a hotel with a swimming pool, then we can arrange this for you. You’ll stay in a beautiful beachfront location, just steps away from a pristine white sandy beach – perfect for relaxing after exploring the wildlife-rich Galapagos.
The program is as follows:
Day 1 – Meet & greet, speedboat to Isabela
Day 2 – Snorkeling at Tintoreras
Day 3 – Free day
Day 4 – Departure
Kayaking at Tintoreras
If you’d like to add some kayaking to your adventures in Isabela, we can arrange this for you. You’ll take your snorkelling equipment with you as you paddle across the clear waters, passing volcanic formations and abundant wildlife, before hopping in the water to explore further. Galapagos penguins can often be spotted resting on the lava rocks, while playful sea lions may swim alongside your kayak and graceful sea turtles glide beneath you. As you navigate the calm waters, keep an eye out for white-tip reef sharks resting in the shallows and blue-footed boobies diving for fish. After exploring above and below the surface, you’ll paddle back to shore, soaking in the beautiful coastal scenes around you.
Snorkelling at Los Tuneles
Although snorkelling at Tintoreras is included in the standard trip, if you’re looking for a challenge, we can arrange for you to go snorkelling at Los Tuneles. Alongside an experienced guide, you will visit the volcanic tunnels and explore the rock formations that are home to a huge variety of marine life, including small reef sharks and sea turtles. During this excursion, you’ll also go on a short hike where you’ll likely encounter more of the incredible wildlife that call this area home.
Mountain biking in Isla Isabela
What better way to discover the beauty of Isla Isabela than hiring a mountain bike and exploring the volcanic landscapes, coastal trails and lush highlands? Ride the Puerto Villamil Coastal Trail and follow the coast along a sandy path, with opportunities to spot marine iguanas, sea lions and flamingos in nearby lagoons, and make a stop at Concha de Perla, a natural swimming hole. Don’t forget to bring your snorkeling and swimming gear!
Hiking at Sierra Negra
The volcanic landscapes on Isla Isabela are a huge draw for many visitors and set this island apart from its neighbours. If you’re interested in exploring the island on foot, then we can arrange a hiking tour of Sierra Negra for you. You will experience the lunar landscape and soak in the views of one of the largest volcanic craters in the world. The walk is approximately 15km and you’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will tell you all about the origins of the archipelago.
