14 brilliant things to do on Isabela Island in the Galapagos

Last updated on June 15th, 2026 at 05:24 am

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The best things to do on Isabela Island are all on the wild side – its just perfect for outdoor and nature lovers! This was the second island I went to in the Galapagos, after San Cristobal, and I fell in love with it too. What’s so cool in the Galapagos is that the islands are all so different. I simply can’t choose one over the others.

Isabela is less touristed than the other islands and has a relaxed vibe as well as plenty to see and do. It has volcanoes, sulphur mines, some pretty horrible history, beaches, lagoons, and, walking around you are literally falling over wildlife – see the pics below!

Its a lot of fun to wander around Puerto Villamil, the main town. It has a big white beach running along the length of the town which is great for chilling.
Iguanas seem to be everywhere near the shore line and will likely get in your way at times! 🙂 Definitely go to the Malecón de Puerto Villamil where they will be hanging around in large numbers.
And down at the port you can even dangle your toes in a turtles face. That’s after you hop past the sea lions and iguanas first!

2 – 5 day itinerary for Isabela Island

Before we dive into all the attractions of Isabela, this is how to piece them together depending on how much time you have. You will find links to the locations and any tours in The best things to do in Isabela Island section below

2 day trip

Day 1 – Arrive on the island on the morning ferry or by plane, wander the town checking out the iguanas on the seafront. Hire a bike and cycle to the wall of Tears via Flamingo Lake, the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center, Cerro Orchilla Hill viewpoint, El Radar viewpoint, and the wetlands.
Day 2 – Do the brilliant day trip to Los Tuneles with Snorkelling!
Leave on the early morning ferry the next morning.

3 day trip: 

Add to the two days above with a volcano tour – walking or by horse, or, visit the Minas de Azufre and/or the Trillizos Volcano.

Ultimate 4-5 day trip: 

Add either of the following days:

• Take a tour to Las Tintoreras Islet. Snorkel at Concha de Perla lagoon.
• Spend more time exploring the town and the wetlands, bike elsewhere on the island or take an alternative tour in the volcano or mines.
• Either leave the island on the afternoon ferry, or on the early morning ferry the next day.

Ready to build your own custom trip? Keep scrolling for the best things to do on Isabela Island…

The best things to do on Isabella Island!

In no particular order – other than no 1 which is the major highlight:

1. Los Tuneles day trip – its amazing!

I’m absolutely putting this first as one of the best things to do on Isabela island because it is completely surreal! Think Dr Seuss come to life. The landscape you are going to see is straight out of one of his books! The lava structures are nothing short of mind-blowing!

Above ground you will get up close and personal to blue-footed boobies – just amazing. You should also see crabs, iguanas sea lions, marine iguanas, and penguins on this trip.

The Los Tuneles water is probably the clearest I saw in the islands and you are likely to see reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, sting rays, fish…….and maybe more like an octopus just by looking down into the water.

If you are only going to do one day trip on Isabela island, this is the one! I highly highly recommend this Los Tuneles Snorkelling trip but this is a good alternative too! Either way you will get some great snorkeling and you will get to walk around the crazy lava landscape and see the blue footed boobies up very very close! It remains as one of my most vivid memories of the Galapagos – its a real “must-do”

2. Take a trip out to Las Tintoreras – walk and snorkel

Las Tintoreras islet is a great little trip to do morning or afternoon. But note that you must go on a tour to see Las Tintoreras due to wildlife protection. I recommend this 3 hour Snorkeling and Fauna Observation tour.

On the boat tour you get to do the short 1.4 km walk where you go past the large breeding colony of marine iguanas. They are really en-masse! Equally, or even more, cool is that hundreds of little reef sharks hang out here during the day and you can look down through the water at them! You will also see blue-footed boobies and probably penguins.

Either way you will snorkel where you will quite likely see rays and turtles and some of the sharks. We hit a huge group of golden cow-nose rays that circled us – it was superb!

3. Visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center

This is a small but important breeding center for 5 different subspecies of Giant Galapagos Tortoises. They are all native to Isabela, but are threatened by habitat damage caused by introduced animals and volcanic eruptions.  When Sierra Negra blew in 2005 it nearly wiped out the tortoises!

The Giant Tortoise eggs are carefully incubated in a special hatchery, and the adults are in large supervised corrals. It is small, and costs $10 but you can learn a lot if you have a good guide. And, of course, the money is going directly to a very good cause.

The walk here and the flamingo lake just nearby make it a pleasant couple of hours spent!

4. Cycle to El Muro de las Lágrimas – the Wall of Tears (and more)

This was a favorite day out for me and definitely one of the best things to do on Isabela Island. Hire a bike and see the island the slow and chill way. We met giant tortoises on the road, stopped at a beautiful look out on the way (no. 6), walked to a viewpoint at the wall (no. 7) and enjoyed the wetlands (no. 8) and beaches on the way home. You wont get lost with this AllTrails map!

The Wall of Tears itself, is a monstrous stone wall built between 1946 and 1959 by inmates of the former Isabela Prison. Literally hundreds of prisoners were forced to build this 91 meter long and 20 meter high (300 feet long and 65 feet high) wall for no other purpose than to be punished. They had to quarry the stone, break it up, and then build the wall. Conditions were horribly harsh – think of the heat alone, let alone diseases like tuberculosis and the food and water shortages on the island. Many prisoners died!

in 1958 the prisoners staged a rebellion, killing all the guards and hijacking an American yacht which they escaped on. They were never to be heard of again so nobody knows if they survived or not. The Ecuadorian authorities finally closed the Isabela penal colony a year later.

Brutal and horrible, but the cycle here, seeing the wall itself, the wetlands, beaches, and climbing the viewpoints make this a really worthwhile way to spend a good part of the day. And as you are cycling you will see more of the island and its flora and fauna.

Tip: Stop at all the little side roads on the way back (not just the places I have covered in 6,7,8). For example;

• Los Tunos – a viewpoint over a deep ochre color lake. Its very beautiful in its own way.
• El Túnel de Estero – a little lava cave / tunnel.
• You also pass Playa Del Amor (an iguana pick up spot 🙂 ) and pretty little La Playita.
• Finally, you bike right past the cemetery!

5. Climb to the Cerro Orchilla Hill Viewpoint (on your bike trip to the Wall of Tears)

Cerro Orchilla Hill is a real highlight on the way to the Wall of Tears. Climb up this beautiful hill and look out over the southern part of the island. You can see Puerto Villamil town in the distance, the coastline and lots of small volcanic hills dotted the landscape.

Tip: Be careful parking your bike – watch out for thorns that can puncture your tires

6. Take the El Radar viewpoint walk (at the Wall of Tears)

This is a short but lovely walk you can do after arriving at the Wall of Tears. Its definitely worth doing because you are already there and it gives a different perspective of the surrounding countryside than Cerro Orchilla Hill, and, a different perspective to the Wall of Tears itself.

7. Take in the quiet of Los Humedales – the wetlands reserve (also on your bike trip to the Wall of Tears)

Los Humedales, or the wetlands, is a beautiful area full of different types of mangroves, swamps and lakes. You pass it on the way to or back from the Wall of Tears. You are likely to see flamingos and giant tortoises in this area as well as all kinds of other birds (gallinules, common stilts, whimbrels and many more). You can also walk to it from town very easily – follow this AllTrails map.

All this for free ,so allow some time to poke around and enjoy the peacefulness of the area and the wildlife.

8. Go on a volcano tour to Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano

This is one of the best things to do on Isabela Island as it is an absolutely HUGE volcano caldera. In fact it is the second biggest in the world! Lake Toba in Sumatra is the biggest but its a lake, and this is dry and super-cool. Even more intriguing is that the last eruption was in 2018 so not very long ago at all!

Be aware you do walk 16 km, so it will be a bit tough if you are very unfit. But the views over the desolate and ‘dark’ red and black crater are absolutely worth it. As is seeing its little offspring – Chico Volcano! You have to do this with a guide.

There is also an option that focuses on the sulphur mines and landscape in the volcano, and an option to horse ride through it all! These are all highly rated recommended tours:

• Galapagos Hiking excursion to Sierra Negra Volcano & Lava Fields (that I recommend),
• Puerto Villamil: Hiking Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano
• Isabela Island Wonders: Sulphur mine + Agro Tour Experience
• Galapagos horseback riding: ridges of Sierra Negra Volcano

Tips:

• Take sunnies and a rain jacket! Don’t worry if you start off in fog during the green area you first walk through. By the time you get to the rim, the fog will probably have cleared and you will need your sunnies!
• If you go on a trip that starts a bit later, you are less likely to have fog as it will have burnt off, so check the start time of the tour.

9. Go Indiana Jones-like at the Trillizos Volcano Hole

Some people say the Trillizos Volcano Tour is one of the best things to do on Isabela, but others think its the worst! To be fair there have been accidents there. Its definitely a bit Indiana Jones-like!

Essentially, you go down a volcanic cave / hole on the side of the Sierra Negra volcano. It involves a long steep (wet muddy) sloped descent on a wooden ladder followed by a totally vertical ladder into a big hole in the ground.

You are harnessed and hard-hatted up, but this is not for those with mobility or height issues. But once you get inside you are right inside a volcano – kind of wild right?

10. Snorkel and swim in Concha de Perla lagoon

The lagoon, Concha de Perla, is absolutely lovely to swim and snorkel in.

Its free, is a short walk from the center of town, and is a super wildlife experience at your fingertips. Just be prepared to step over iguanas on your way down the boardwalk to the lagoon. Don’t briefly look and think there is nothing here when you arrive. Get in and swim around the mangroves and let it unfold for you. You will quite likely be joined by a marine iguana or two, as well as turtles, crabs, little sharks and rays. You might even see a penguin like we did.

There is an organised snorkel with a guide if you want to make sure you make the most of it – on this Isabela Island: Concha Perla Snorkeling Experience

For me, it is one of the best things to do on Isabela!

11. Cycle downhill from the volcano (not a tour)

If you’ve hired a bike, get a pick-up taxi to drop you and your bikes off up the hill at the entrance to the Sierra Negra volcano. Cycle back down!

This is not an organized thing – just something we decided would be fun to do. Talk about a wild fun ride in some places! Stop at Mirador el Mango on the way just for a break and to get the views. We had such a blast doing this!

12. Zen by Flamingo Lake

Just beside Puerto Villamil, you will find Flamingo Lake. I love watching flamingos so this was a must. The flamingos you see are a very deep color. The food there must be good!

To get there, just walk down the the Iguana Crossing hotel and take the nature walk over the lagoon to the Posada de flamengos viewing area. (You can also carry on past here to go to the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center.)

You wont see huge flocks of flamingos but you will see small groups and solitary birds paddling away finding food. Its much better in the morning or at duck out of the heat of they day, which they don’t like either. This is also where you will see more flamingos than anywhere else in the Galapagos so definitely worth a nice peaceful stroll during your visit. Very zen!

13. Surf and watch pelicans at Puerto Villamil beach

We spent a great afternoon doing exactly this on Puerto Villamil beach. There was nobody there on this huge and lovely beach – just pelicans and us! The waves were small but good fun for learners just to hang out on. La Playita beach just a bit further on after the main beach is also a lovely little bay.

14. Finally, check out the church – the Iglesia Cristo Salvador – you’ll see why!

Its a modern church – nothing wild side about that, right? Not until you go inside and see all the lovely murals and the stained glass windows with all the local animals and landscapes. Its the best thing I ever saw in a church!

How do I get to Isabela Island

You can get to Isabela on the local ferry from Santa Cruz leaving at 6am or 3pm each way, or by this boat transfer to Santa Cruz at 7am and 3pm. There are no ferries or boats from San Cristobal to Isabela.
Your other option is to fly from either San Cristobal or Santa Cruz with a local airline. This is more expensive but can be a great time saver if you want to visit all three main islands – fly from San Cristobal to Isabela or vice versa to cut out the 2 boat trips via Santa Cruz. For example, fly into San Cristobal from mainland Ecuador, fly to Isabela, boat / ferry to Santa Cruz and fly out from there, or vice versa.

You can also come on a day tour from Santa Cruz – Isabela full-day from Santa Cruz with Tintoreras & Flamingos (I don’t recommend this unless you are really really short of time.)

Or it is included as part of one of these great package tours:

• 6-Day Galapagos Island Hopping Tour: Santa Fe, Santa Cruz and Los Tuneles (a great mix)

• 7-day Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure Expedition (has the best of Isabela included)
• 7-Day The Best of Galapagos Adventure (also has the best of Isabela included)
• 5-Day Guided Galapagos & Los Tuneles Tour (most of this trip is the best things in Isabela)

Things to pack for Isabela and the Galapagos

• Cash – its king on Isabela! There are a few ATMS but not everywhere, and not everyone accepts cards. They may also refuse to take or give change for $50 or $100 notes. Keep your notes small.
• Sunscreen (reef safe – I like ocean potion) and hat.
• Good and comfortable walking / hiking shoes.
• Mosquito repellent (deet free) – during rainy season in particular. Its needed against horseflies as well – especially at sunset! Also lightweight clothes that cover arms and legs as protection.
• A reusable insulated water bottle to cut down on single-use plastic waste, which is heavily discouraged on the islands.
• Your camera and power bank for day trips! Plus a water-proof pouch for your phone. You’re going to be snapping pics a lot!
• Rash suit, wetsuit (if prone to cold), and swimsuit. Water shoes can be useful too.
• A sand-free quick drying towel.
• Seasickness medication if you are that way inclined – like me!

Quick Travel Tips for Isabela Island

• Cash is still king and ATMS are unreliable: There are still virtually no reliable ATMs on Isabela, and card readers frequently lose connection. Bring more US dollars in cash than you think you need and especially small bills ($5, $10, $20), as businesses rarely have change for a $100 or even a $50 bill.
• Don’t bring fresh food, nuts or seeds from other islands: They will be confiscated.
• Splurge on the “Los Tuneles” tour and book well ahead: If you only do one paid excursion, this is the one. Because park entry limits are strictly enforced, this tour fills up days (sometimes weeks) ahead. Book it before you even arrive on the island.
• The “Water Taxi” hidden arrival cost: When you arrive by boat or ferry from Santa Cruz, the boat doesn’t pull up to the dock. You have to pay a $1-2 in cash for a water taxi to take you from the boat to the pier, (plus the $5 Isabela Island municipal dock tax).
• Pre-dose for seasickness – if you are coming by boat: The boats between Santa Cruz and Isabela are notoriously rough and bouncy. Unless you know you can handle any kind of sea state, take motion sickness medication at least 45 minutes before boarding.
• Download what you need before you leave: Download the entire island map offline via Google Maps, and AllTrails walks, Google Translate for Spanish if needed, and accommodation or tour bookings before you leave to Isabela. See the FAQs for more info on internet.
• Download Before You Fly: Do not rely on the island internet to download heavy offline maps, large Spotify playlists, or Netflix shows. Do all your heavy downloading while you are still on mainland Ecuador!
• No hire cars or scooters: You can’t rent a motorcycle or a car anywhere in the Galapagos.
• Rent a bike for the Wall of Tears and take lots of water: Don’t walk it. The trail to El Muro de las Lágrimas is a 12km (7.5 mile) round trip with hot sun and little shade! Renting a mountain bike in town makes it a great fun ride past wild tortoises and beaches etc. Take plenty of water – especially if you are planning to walk to all the lookouts and swim at the beach en-route!
• Time your Flamingo Lagoon visit: The absolute best times to view the bright pink flamingos at the salt lagoons near the breeding center are early morning (7:00 AM) or right at sunset.
• Eat the “Almuerzos” for budget saving: Food on Isabela is pricier than on the mainland because everything is shipped in. For the best value, look for local restaurants offering the set lunch menu (almuerzo). They usually include a soup, a main dish (usually fresh fish or chicken), and a fresh juice.
• Bring your own googles and snorkel if you have them. You can rent snorkel gear and fins at Concha de Perla or in town, but its good to have your own snorkel and mask that you know fits!
• Consider packing a thicker rash guard or a light wetsuit (June–November): At this time the water averages at 68°F–70°F (20°C). A regular swimsuit will be fine for a swim, but might not cut it for long snorkel sessions at Concha de Perla or surfing etc.
• Camping is possible: You can camp on the island – read How to camp on the Galapagos Islands for more info!

Frequently asked questions for Isabela Island

Q: How do I get to Isabela Island?
A: See the section on getting to Isabela above.

Q: How many days should I spend on Isabela Island?
A: You can do a quick day trip from Santa Cruz, but I don’t recommend it unless desperate. I recommend a minimum of 2 full days but preferably 3-5 days to properly experience the slow-pace, hike the Sierra Negra Volcano, cycle to the Wall of Tears, and snorkel Los Tuneles.

Q: Where do I stay on Isabela Island?
A: See the next section.

Q: How bad is the WiFi and internet connection in the Galapagos?
A: It has dramatically improved! Older travel guides will tell you the internet situation is bad, but Starlink has rolled out across the islands now and most hotels, hostels, and restaurants in the main towns have fast, reliable WiFi. However, still keep these things in mind:
*The cell service drops out quickly outside of the main town limits.
*Even with Starlink, hotel networks are shared among dozens of guests. Speeds can drop noticeably in the evenings when everyone returns from tours and hops online at the same time.
*Its still best to download any big items that you need before you fly.

Q: What is the entrance fee for Isabela Island?
A: When you arrive at the Puerto Villamil pier, you must pay a $5 USD municipal dock tax in cash. This is entirely separate from the main Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100 to $200 USD depending on your entry date/status) paid at the main airport when you first land in the Galapagos.

Q: Can I see Galapagos Penguins on Isabela Island?
A: Yes! Isabela (along with Fernandina) are the best places in the islands to spot them. You can usually see them resting on the rocks or in the water at Las Tintoreras Islet or swimming right alongside you in the Concha de Perla lagoon.

Q: What is the water temperature for snorkeling?
A: It depends on the season. From December to May, the water is warm and tropical, on average 76°F (24°C) – perfect for swimming without a wetsuit. From June to November, the water drops to around 70°F (21°C), which is still pretty warm.

Q: Is Isabela Island more expensive than Santa Cruz?
A: Yes, slightly. Because it is less populated and more remote, requiring more transport for basic goods, groceries, restaurant meals, and accommodation are slightly more expensive than Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz. Expect to spend about 15–20% more here for everyday items.

Q: Can I visit the attractions on Isabela without a guide?
A: You can visit several excellent spots completely for free without a guide, including Concha de Perla (snorkeling), the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center, the Flamingo Lagoons, and the bike trail to the Wall of Tears. But the premium water sites like Los Tuneles and Las Tintoreras require a certified park naturalist guide along with most of the volcanic type attractions!

Q: Is there a medical clinic or hospital on Isabela Island?
A: There is only a small, basic medical clinic in the main town of Puerto Villamil for minor injuries, basic prescriptions, and first aid. For any major medical emergencies or specialized care, patients must be evacuated by boat or small aircraft to Santa Cruz or mainland Ecuador. Make sure you have good travel insurance.

Q: Can I drink the tap water?
A: No – and its best to clean your teeth with filtered or bottled water too.

Q: What are the road and transportation conditions like?
A: Puerto Villamil is incredibly laid-back – most of the roads in town are unpaved or sandy tracks. There are no public buses. You can easily walk to almost everything in town, or rent a bicycle, or grab one of the local white pickup-truck taxis for a flat $2–$3 fare anywhere within the town limits. Outside of town the roads tend to be gravel metal or sandy.

Q: Are drones permitted on Isabela Island?
A: No. Flying recreational drones is strictly illegal throughout the entire Galapagos National Park, including the beaches and towns of Isabela, to protect the native birdlife and wildlife from stress. Only specialized commercial cinematographers with pre-approved, expensive permits from the National Park Directorate are allowed to operate them.

Where to Stay on Isabela Island

Stay in the main town of Puerto Villamil for easy access to everything. Book a hotel there with booking.com or a hostel with Hostelworld.
As always there is a lot of choice for your budget and what you want to do has a big part to play in what is right for you. These recommendations are a good place to start. They all have very high review ratings!

High End – Cormorant Beach House or Mi Playa Galapagos Beachfront Apartments

An entire Villa – Casa Baronesa or Yellow Heron House

Mid Range – The Isabela Beach House or Flip Flop House

Great Value – Galápagos Isabela Hotel Loja (4 beds) or Hotel StarFish, or Casa Almendro

Budget – Hostal Galapagos by Bar de Beto, or OASIS JENY Apartamento

Fancy getting away from it all and camping instead?

There is a glamping options on Isabella. For all the details, read How to camp on the Galapagos Islands!

Plan your trip checklist

To help you lock in your adventure, here are the exact booking platforms I personally use for all my travels. If you book through these affiliate links, it helps support this site and keeps me producing free travel guides—at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for the support! Cheers!

All in one – if you want to book flights and accommodation as a package, use expedia

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. Safety wing is particularly good if you are from the USA. As I am not, TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld – I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains

Car rental – DiscoverCars are my ‘go-to’ car rental site

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. Two key activities on Isabela Island are:

• a trip to the amazing landscapes of Los Tuneles with Snorkelling
• a trip to Sierra Negra volcano – either a Volcano walking tour or if you prefer, go horse riding around the rim of the volcano!

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!!

Related posts – in the Galapagos

The 12 best wild things to do on San Cristobal in the Galapagos

10+ fantastic wild things to do on Santa Cruz – the Galapagos Islands

7, 10, 14 and 20 day itineraries for the Galapagos Islands!

How to camp on the Galapagos Islands!

How to visit the Galapagos Islands on a budget!

15 unmissable things to do in the Galapagos Islands