Isabela - Galápagos - Ecuador

Isabela is the largest and youngest island of Galapagos, it covers almost 60% of the total land of the Galapagos. It is a living area and in constant formation. To check it, you only have to visit one of its five volcanoes.

It is the land of contrasts since it has brackish lagoons that house dozens of flamingos, white sand beaches originated in the coral, craters that show signs of recent eruptions and marine cracks where you can see the blue shafts in the turquoise water.

The Tunnels at cabo Rosas, is a spectacular place where you can snorkel with sea turtles, sharks, blue sharks, penguins, sea horses and more.

On the west side are colonies of penguins and flightless cormorants, the only cormorant in the world that does not fly.

Flora in Isabela

We find species such as milky, candelabra, cactus, palo santo, carob trees, muyuyos, manzanillos, black mangrove, white mangrove, red mangrove, among others.

Fauna in Isabela

We find frigates, penguins, pelicans, blue footed boobies, iguanas, sea lions, giant tortoises, among others. Under the sea there is a rich world with tropical fish, corals, sharks, eels, rays, dolphins and more.

Gastronomy in Isabela

Encebollado.- a broth prepared with albacore, yucca, onion and tomato as main ingredients, is a traditional dish.

Shrimp Ceviche .- comes prepared with orange juice, lemon and onions, usually comes with shrimp although you can also find shellfish, fish and mixed ceviche. It is served with popcorn, toasted and chifles.

Chupe de pescado.- a dish with fish and vegetables.

More meals

The cuisine of Isabela Island can be defined as varied, whose main ingredients come from the sea. Among other dishes are rice, seafood soup, cod with potatoes, green bowls and yucca bread.

Tourist places of Isabrls Canton

Turtle Island

It is an old volcanic caldera, of which only half remains outside the water, of about 130 ha. Located southeast of Isabela Island of which only half remains out of the water. It is one of the main seabird nesting sites of the Galapagos. It is believed it was discovered in March 1535 and incorporated into Ecuador in 1832.

For those interested in a true natural paradise with exotic wildlife and unrivaled landscapes, there is no place in the world as fascinating as the Galapagos Islands

Sierra Negra Volcano

The Sierra Negra volcano is the largest and one of the most active of the Islands. Its northern flank is usually covered with clouds and fog, which allows the growth of vegetation. This area is the site of two of the oldest human settlements in the Galapagos, Puerto Villamil, on the coast, and Santo Tomás, located 20 kilometers inland in the highlands.

This volcano also has one of the largest boilers in the world. Once you reach the edge of the crater of the volcano, you can descend on foot to the fumaroles located at the bottom of the Sierra Negra caldera.

The Tunnels

Los Túneles is one of the best places for surface diving because its waters are calm, clear and shallow. This is a unique site thanks to its wonderful geological formations, since the lava flows have formed a large number of arches or tunnels, in and out of the water, where several species of the marine fauna of the Enchanted Islands are sheltered.

Upon arrival there are certain low that usually have strong waves mainly from June to December, so it is not always feasible to enter Los Túneles.

Wall of Tears

This is a historical site of Isabela because during the years 1946 to 1959 there was a penal colony on this island, during which to punish the prisoners they were forced to build a wall with huge blocks of lava that is about 100 meters long. 7 meters high.

You can reach the upper part of the Wall of Tears through a staircase, from where you can have a panoramic view of the place. In the place you can still see the concrete bases where the Americans had their wooden houses in World War II.

Tagus Cove

In the Tagus Cove, pirates and whalers who arrived at the place inscribed the names of their boats on the stones to leave the trace of their passage through Caleta Tagus.

In the place, from the beginning of the route, you can see inscriptions dating from 1800. Caleta Tagus owes its name to an English warship that in 1814 passed through the islands to hunt Galapagos tortoises in order to feed.

Pearl shell

Concha de Perla is the ideal place to practice sports such as swimming or diving. It is a bay with shallow, calm and transparent water that allows you to observe the fascinating Galápagos marine fauna and you can swim with sea lions and penguins, something that can not be experienced in any other tropical area of ​​the world.

Islet of the Tintoreras

Las Tintoreras, located 10 minutes by boat from Puerto Villamil, is a small rocky islet. So called because there is a crack of lava with calm and transparent water where white tip fin sharks, called "tintoreras", tend to rest and which can be easily seen in the mornings and afternoons. On the vertical walls of the cracks and the small turquoise lagoon of the interior dozens of baby marine iguanas heat their bodies with the morning sun.