Home
Ecuador
PLAN MY VISIT
Ecuador Destinations HotelsThings to do Transport Maps Vacations Team
  • Top Destinations
PLAN MY VISIT →
  1. Home
  2. Ecuador
  3. Destinations
  4. Galapagos

Isabela, Ecuador

As the largest island in the Galápagos, Isabela offers the widest range of terrain and visitor sites in the archipelago. Isabela hosts impressive wildlife, white-sand beaches, and barren lava fields. This island has the largest population of wild tortoises, which can be seen roaming in the highlands near the rims of craters. Isabela is the closest island to the Galápagos volcanic hotspot and is thus the most volcanically active island in the archipelago. It has six shield volcanos dispersed across its 1,790 square mile (4,640 square km) landscape.

THINGS TO DOHOTELS
Similar places: Beach  Island  Nature  Rest and Relaxation 
Isabela Ecuador
Isabela Ecuador
Isabela Ecuador
Isabela Ecuador
Isabela Ecuador
Isabela Ecuador
Isabela Ecuador
Isabela Ecuador
←→

The sleepy town of Puerto Villamil welcomes visitors with a large white-sand beach, palm trees, and quiet dirt roads. This town is a great place if you’re looking to slow the pace of your travels. Visitor sites on either end of the town are easily accessed by foot. Just outside of Puerto Villamil lies a large network of saltwater lagoons. These are a feeding ground for a variety of bird species and are often frequented by flamingos. Winding, well-marked paths lead you from lagoon to lagoon.

The paths to the Villamil Lagoons will also lead you to Isabela’s Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. While the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island has a similar program, Isabela’s allows visitors to observe the rehabilitation and breeding process in a bit more detail. Stroll from pen to pen and see giant tortoises in every stage of life—hatchlings, adolescents and adults. Many of the tortoises’ here will later be released across Isabela to help the recovering population.

A 10-mile (16-km) round-trip hike takes travelers to the crater rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano. From here you can look out over a vast, 6-mile (10-km) caldera. Traversing the crater rim, you will cross barren lava fields and head toward the Chico Volcano, a “fissure” or adjacent lava vent. In clear weather, the vista from Chico gives hikers a chance to see the other volcanoes and lava flows that cover the entire island. The weather can often be rainy, making for muddy trail conditions. Come prepared with extra clothes or shoes.

The submerged lava tunnels of Las Tintoreras lie just off the coast of Isabela near Puerto Villamil. These tunnels are a popular place to go snorkeling. The shallow pools attract white-tip reef sharks along with a host of other marine life, including sea lions and sea turtles.

Isabela Things to Do

Check out more tours and activities in Isabela.

Flight Inter Islands | EcuadorFlight Inter Islands
Isabela Land Tour | EcuadorIsabela Land Tour
Sierra Negra Volcano and Chico Volcano | EcuadorSierra Negra Volcano and Chico Volcano
Lava Tunnels | EcuadorLava Tunnels
Isabela to Santa Cruz Inter-Island Ferry | EcuadorIsabela to Santa Cruz Inter-Island Ferry
Wetlands Tour of Isabela Island  | EcuadorWetlands Tour of Isabela Island
←→


Excellent!
Trustpilot Rating
Based on 528 reviews
Trustpilot
Best way to travel!
I trusted Harold from Anywhere.com to plan my family's vacation. Harold went above and beyond in making sure that our tr...
Oct 04, 2021
– Shivani P.
Trustpilot Rating
Profesionalism at its Best
My experience with Anywhere.com in Costa Rica was perfection. All of the drivers were punctual and pleasant; and all of ...
Aug 02, 2021
– Natasha I.
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere is OUTSTANDING!
My family & I have used Anywhere to organize 3 vacations- Costa Rica, Peru, & now Ecuador. I would not hesitate to use t...
Jul 29, 2021
– Kara V.
Trustpilot Rating
Awesome vacation, everything went smoothly
Our agent (Erick) planned a great trip for our family of 5. All the tours were excellent, all the transport and lodging ...
Mar 17, 2020
– David
Trustpilot Rating
Everything Anywhere said they would do…
Everything Anywhere said they would do they did. Very professional and friendly staff.
Mar 16, 2020
– Darrell
Trustpilot Rating
We were very reassured in constructing…
We were very reassured in constructing our trip using Anywhere.com as the team responded promptly to our questions in a ...
Mar 16, 2020
– Michael
Trustpilot Rating
Great service!
Great service!
Mar 15, 2020
– Kyle K
Trustpilot Rating
If I could give 100+stars, I would.
If I could give 100+stars, I would.
Mar 15, 2020
– Jerry Pos.
Trustpilot Rating
I gave Anywhere a 48hr turnaround time…
I gave Anywhere a 48hr turnaround time before our departure to provide an itineary based on what we already researched a...
Mar 14, 2020
– Thomas hi.
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere.com was so easy to work with
Anywhere.com was so easy to work with. They made booking my transfers a pleasant experience. And I even had some last ...
Mar 14, 2020
– Ashley Ba.
Trustpilot Rating
Perfectly planned
Perfectly planned. The trip went off with all (5) transfers on time and all our accommodations meeting or exceeding our...
Mar 14, 2020
– John C.
Trustpilot Rating
Great service and letting me know all…
Great service and letting me know all the options.
Mar 14, 2020
– Sridhar R.
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere.com provided the most AMAZING…
Anywhere.com provided the most AMAZING trip. Our rides were always there and we didn't have to worry about anything. We ...
Mar 13, 2020
– Jennifer
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere made the trip very easy
Anywhere made the trip very easy. Everything was arranged for us and all we had to do was show up for whatever tour or t...
Mar 13, 2020
– CJ Follet.
Trustpilot Rating
Two Wonderful Trips!!
My husband and I have taken two trips with Anywhere. We were thrilled with their services both times. There is such pers...
Mar 13, 2020
– FAITH HOF.
Trustpilot Rating
Ecuador Vacations
  • Adventure
  • Beach
  • Bird-watching
  • Community
  • Family
  • Luxury
  • Nature
  • Rainforest
  • Romantic
Highlights
  • Unique & Authentic
  • Beaches
  • Colonial
  • Rainforests
  • Islands
  • Volcanoes
  • Surfing
Ecuador Travel
    PLACES TO GO
    • Quito
    • Santa Cruz
    • San Cristobal
    • Guayaquil
    • Banos
    • Galapagos
    • Amazon
    • Cuenca
    THINGS TO DO
    • Boating
    • Birdwatching
    • Get a Guide
    • Nature Walks
    • Snorkeling
    • Sea Creatures
    • Hiking
    • Historic
    • Scuba Diving
    Trustpilot 5 of 5 rated service
    Trustpilot "Excellent"
    Plan My Visit→+1 (888) 456-3212
    MessengerContact AnywhereWhatsapp ContactCall USA: +1-888-456-3212

    © 2022 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy