General Information
Isabela Island is about 130 kilometers long from the north to the south. With this size, the island is the biggest of all islands in the Galapagos. This island also holds the highest volcano on the Galapagos, ‘Volcán Wolf’ with a height of 1646 meters. There are several more volcanoes, of which ‘Volcan Sierra Negra’ can be climbed. At ‘Volcán Alcedo’ the largest population of tortoises can be found.
Tagus Cove
This is a hidden site where the old ships used to go safe anchoring for over three centuries. Here you will find a lot of markings with names and dates left by every ship that used the site. This site was also used for provisioning of fresh water. The landscape is covered with dense vegetation that is typical for the area. Some of the (native) plants that you can find here are ´Muyuyo´, ´Galapagos cotton´ and ´velvet shrub´. In the area you have the opportunity to see some finches, mockingbirds, the Galapagos Owl, as well as a spectacular view of the bay and Darwin Lake. Right at the end of the trail you will find lava slopes of Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. Also there is a chance to make a panga ride along the cliff side nearby so you can observe the marine wildlife. The cliffs are colonized by marine iguanas, crabs, sea-lions and penguins.
Volcán Alcedo
There is a wet landing on a beach with black lava sand. If you visit this island, make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, because the trip around the island is approximately 20km and there is an extension of 12km. At these places you can find the best spots to see giant tortoises. This trip is not without effort and not the easiest one and therefore it is wise to bring band-aids. Also bring enough water and sunscreen, because there are not much places where you can find shadow.
Please make sure that you have to watch your guide on our way up, because here you can get lost easily. Besides turtles you can spot other animals like hawks and flycatchers.
Elizabeth Bay
Elizabeth Bay is the narrowest part on Isabela Island. Landing is possible here, but it takes the boat a long time to get to the coast. Once in the lagoon, there are many beautiful things to see. You can see golden rays, turtles, baby sharks and amazingly young sea lions that climb the trees! Besides that, other animals are frequently seen, including penguins, tropicbirds, herons and flightless cormorants.
Punta Moreno
This part of the island is the least visited. Not because there aren’t many things to see here, but because landing here is quite difficult. One of the most beautiful things here are the lagoons that you can find in the black lava. Surprisingly enough, these lagoons are full of life. Dragonflies, moorhens and flamingos can be found here. A quick dive in the coastal pools is very welcome although the visibility is poor under water. Other animals that can be seen are wild dogs in packs, white-cheeked pintail ducks, herons, martins, sandpipers, plovers and pelicans!
Urbina Bay
The landing here is far from dry and you can get wet until your waist, so make sure that you put all your personal things in plastic bags and make sure they make it to the shore without getting wet. You can walk the whole circuit in two hours, but is it recommended that you choose between two different walks, mainly because of the heat and the dense vegetation. You can choose to go inland to look for giant tortoises and the other possibility is to walk along the coast to look for other animals like cormorants. In the rainy season, turtles can be found right behind the beach. That’s why it is smart to go ashore as early as possible to see them. Other animals that can be seen here are cormorants, land iguanas and hermit crabs. In this part of the island you can find the ´manzanillo´ or poison apple trees. Beware of them as their sap can cause a nasty rash.
Puerto Villamil
Near this little town with 1400 inhabitants, you can find beautiful beaches. It’s lovely out here, although you have to watch out for the strong undertow in the water. A 30-minute hike takes you to ´Centro de Crianza´. This is a breeding centre for giant tortoises. ´Muro de las Lágrimas´ is a historical place that can be visited and it is about 2 hours from Centro de Crianza. On the other side of the town, also a 30-minute walk, you’ll find ´Concha Perla Lagoon´. Here you have the possibility to go swimming with sea lions and other creatures. Santo Tomás is a small village located some 20km from Puerto Villamil, where you can rent horses for around US$ 10 per day (always depending on the destination). Snorkelling can be practiced east of the port and there are wonderful beaches to practice surfing west of Puerto Villamil.
Mosquera
Mosquera is located between North Seymour and Baltra Island. This little, with coral sand covered, Lava Island gives you the idea of a exploration tour. The only things you’ll find on this spot are many sea lions and plants like ‘seaside heliotrope’ and ‘sea purslane’. Only a few boats will visit this island because it’s not an easy landing at low tide. Once if you have climbed over the boulders, which are the homes of many sea lions, you can enjoy the beauty of the island.