The Galapagos Islands, far off the coast of Ecuador, have some of the most unique species on the planet and offer some of best day trips for wildlife watching anywhere. Couple that with beautiful beaches, tropical weather, and friendly locals and you have a destination worth exploring.

Whether you’re taking a day trip to one of the 18 islands in the volcano-formed archipelago, or hoping to take one of the more luxurious cruise trips to Galapagos Islands, you’re sure to encounter plenty of wildlife.

The Galapagos are home to the endangered giant tortoise, the lava rock loving land iguana and its brethren, the ocean diving marine iguana, plus tons of sea turtles, sea lions and even tropical penguins. The marine iguana is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands, and is unique among modern lizards in that it finds food under the surface of the ocean.

Some of the most scenic day trips you can do in the Galapagos Islands originate from Isabela Island. We had the good fortune of spending some time there and got to experience the best day trips from Isabela Island, Galapagos for ourselves.

A brief history of Isabela Island

Isabela Island (also called Isla Isabela) is the largest of the Galapagos Islands (it’s actually bigger than all the other 17 islands combined!), however Puerto Villamil (the largest village on the island) is the smallest of the three main settlements in the Galapagos.

Getting around town on the sandy streets is quick and easy and there’s a very laid back, almost Caribbean feel to the island. To say that the town is as unique as the people and the animals that live there is an understatement and we met some really nice people there.

Isabela Island straddles the Equator and was formed, like the others in the archipelago, via lava and volcanoes around a million years ago. As a result, this Galapagos island still has plenty of volcanic activity and ranks among one of the most active volcanic islands in the world. Nearly all the volcanic activity is based around the untouched northern portion of the island but it still makes a for a great trip.

Whether you’re taking one of the many tours or going it alone, there’s a lot to do for such a sleepy place. Like most of the Galapagos Islands, you’ll see sea lions and marine iguanas just about everywhere you look as well as the remarkable frigate birds flying overhead. In the wetlands of the island you can see pink flamingoes and stilts and Darwin’s famed finches, that helped him form his theory of evolution, exist near land and sea.

Under the water you can see some of the largest gatherings of hammerhead sharks in the world as well as plenty of sea turtles, stingrays, manta rays and sea horses. If you’re snorkeling, there’s a good chance you’ll be visited by an inquisitive sea lion and, if you’re lucky, the only tropical penguin in the world, the Galapagos penguin.

Day Trips from Isabela Island

Some of the more notable day trips from Isabela Island include:

A day trip to Los Tuneles

Our favorite day trip from any of the Galapagos Islands, the day trip to Los Tuneles was amazing!

The day we went to Los Tuneles we snorkeled with nearly a dozen sea turtles, swam with reef sharks and sea lions, and also saw a sea horse and a few rays up close.

We also walked over crumbling lava tunnels and got up close to watch the mating dance of a pair of blue-footed booby’s.

One of my personal highlights was sitting down on one of the caved in lava arches and watching sea turtles navigate the shallow channels of Los Tuneles below to get to the warmer lagoon for the night.

Sometimes they would pass only a few feet away from us and the water was crystal clear.

Sierra Negra Volcano

The second largest active volcanic crater in the world, the Sierra Negra is over 10km in diameter. Day trips to Sierra Negra take you up and around the rim and give you spectacular views of the volcano and surrounding islands.

Expect to be hot and tired after your 16 km walk but everyone we talked to who did it said it was worth it for the views alone. It’s about a four to five hour tour that usually includes trips to Volcan Chico which is about an hour farther away where you can see fumaroles (gas vents) and parasitic craters (a non main volcano cone) up close.

Tintoreras

The Tintoreras are a series of small islands directly across from Puerto Villamil.

The tour usually comprises of a small boat that takes five minutes to cross the shallow bay and drives slowly along the coastline so you can see the Galapagos penguins (the only tropical penguin in the world) and blue-footed boobies (funny looking birds with blue feet and an extravagant mating dance) up close.

While on a tour, you also have the opportunity to snorkel in between the islands. While snorkeling, you might see everything from small reef sharks to stingrays to sea turtles and curious sea lions.

Once you’re done snorkeling, you’ll cross onto one of the islands where you’ll get off the boat and hike a short trail that’ll bring you to an area full of sea lions and a water alley full of resting sharks.

Tip! If you want you can also kayak over to Tintoreras as part of a group. It’s a fairly similar tour to what’s above however you won’t end up traveling as far down the coast as you would with the boat. The nicest part is that if you find the Galapagos penguins (they move around a lot during certain seasons), you can generally get a little closer to them.

Concha de Perla

The Concha de Perla is like a giant natural swimming pool that’s closed off from the sea. It’s right next to the main island docks. To get to it, look for a sign on the left as you walk towards the water.

After a 1 minute walk along a long wooden boardwalk, you’ll come to a small deck overlooking the bay. There’s not much seating however there are two sets of stairs leading to the water and the Concha de Perla is a gorgeous place to swim and snorkel.

To get to the town docks or the boardwalk, head east from town. The docks can be reached in around 10 minutes. It can be pretty hot in the afternoons so it might be wiser to grab a truck taxi for a few dollars.

Every time we went to Concha de Perla we saw sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and groups of fish. Along the edges, we saw marine iguanas hanging out in low hanging branches just above the water basking in the sun as well as sea lions frolicking about. Supposedly it’s not uncommon to see Galapagos penguins there from time to time as well.

Caution: There is no beach area at Concha de Perla and the water is deep so it’s not great for kids unless they’re strong swimmers. Also note that as the tide rises and drops it can create a current along the outer edges so make sure you’re a strong swimmer or are wearing flippers if you head farther out. Since it’s too deep to see much in the center, you’ll want to keep to the edges anyway.

Giant Tortoise Breeding Center

The National Park runs the giant tortoise breeding center on Isabela Island and that’s where giant tortoises are raised from eggs to adolescence before being set free into the highlands, which is their natural habitat on the island.

The tortoise breeding center is a great place for kids and there is a good interpretation room. To get to it, you can just head down the beach or up the main road the opposite way from the town docks and turn right onto the wooden walkways just past Iguana Crossing. It’s a pretty 30 min walk from town or around 5 minutes by taxi.

Flamingos Lake

To the west of Puerto Villamil, there are various salt and brackish lagoons which house an impressive variety of coastal and sea birds. Here, visitors can also find the largest concentration of flamingos in the Galapagos.

The path to Flamingo Lake is located only a feet from the beach and starts just past Iguana Crossing hotel. You can visit the Tortoise breeding center at the same time since it uses the same path.

Wall of Tears

The Wall of Tears on Isabela Island has a rich history of fairly grisly details. The culmination of which was a large wall made of lava boulders in the middle of nowhere constructed by prisoners in the late 40’s and early 50’s as a large, make work project that never went anywhere.

The Wall of Tears is five km from the town of Puerto Villamil and makes a great early morning or late afternoon jaunt. To get there quicker, you can rent a bicycle in town that will let you ride down the well posted nature trails that will also lead to lagoons, some gorgeous viewpoints, as well as some beautiful secluded beaches.

Wetlands

Isabela Island is also home to wetland areas located just outside of Puerto Vilamil. The Wetlands consist of salt water lagoons and mangrove swamps and are home to a variety of unique endemic bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. You can visit the Wetlands on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.

You might like:

• Our Experience at Hotel Albemarle on Isabela Island Galapagos
• Lounging with Sea Lions at the Red Mangrove Hotel Galapagos – Our Review
• What To Expect On An Ecuador Amazon Tour With La Selva Lodge
• Why You Need To Visit The Hot Springs At Hotel Termas de Papallacta Ecuador
• Canoeing Into The La Selva Lodge In The Ecuadorian Amazon

Not only was Isabela Island our favorite of the three Galapagos islands we visited, but it felt completely different from both the more sophisticated Santa Cruz and the up and coming San Cristobal.

Check prices and availability at Hotel Albermarle now!

If sandy streets, relaxed vibes, a slightly Caribbean feel and an overabundance of some of the most unique animals in the world appeal to you, then Isabela Island might be perfect for you. Even more similar than the Caribbean, Puerto Villamil reminded us of our long stays on the southern beaches of Thailand with it’s eclectic selection of restaurants and it’s sandy, wide streets.

We spend our time in the Galapagos on a land based tour, hopping from island to island. If you’re looking to maximize the amount of time you spend on the water, a cruise based Galapagos cruises for families might work better for you.

While we were there, we stayed at one of the islands best reviewed hotels, the Hotel Albermarle. Situated right on the beach, only seconds from the surf complete with scores of palm trees and marine iguanas just out it’s front door, Hotel Albemarle was a great place from which to explore Isabela island.

Our review of the Hotel Albemarle in the Galapagos Islands

Named after the original name for Isabela Islands, the Mediterranean styled Hotel Albemarle makes guests feel at home, no matter where they hail from.

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Complete with a couple dozen or so rooms, many overlooking the white sands of the beach and the clear blues of the Pacific Ocean, stepping into the white lobby from the sand covered road in front feels like a hidden oasis from the hot sun of the Galapagos.

Without a doubt, one of Hotel Albemarle’s best features is the people working there. The resident manager, Carlos, was always on hand giving us great advice on which spots on the island not to miss and local tidbits on the best restaurants and best tour companies to go with. He always made sure we enjoyed our stay and was incredibly nice to talk to with his impeccable English.

Natalia, the next in line, was great as well and we had some great conversations the nights she was working. Both the cleaning staff and the breakfast cooks where also helpful and polite.

As well as the small front lobby complete with a few computers, the hotel also features a small pool in the center and a breakfast nook to enjoy the tasty, free morning breakfasts.

There’s also a fridge with water, drinks and beer you can purchase for about the same price as one of the local shops in town. The Albemarle Hotel also has filtered water where you can refill your own water bottle at any time during your stay, which was a nice plus.

If you want to relax, there are comfy sun loungers around the pool with some of the best free internet we found on any of the islands. There’s also a great roof top terrace that’s perfect for early morning coffee or late night relaxations. Just don’t try sitting up there during the day unless you want an instant tan under the unrelenting Galapagos sun.

Note: In general, the internet on any of the Galapagos Islands is just a fraction better than dial up and unreliable even on the best of days.

Don’t expect to push all your pictures up to the cloud or get much internet-based work done while you’re there. Streaming anything from YouTube or Netflix was also next to impossible anywhere on the islands.

We were in a pool side ground floor family room, with two twin beds and a double.

We loved the high ceiling (it must have been 10 or 12 feet high), with plenty of fresh air and a bright, white room.

Like all the hotels on Isabela Island, the Hotel Albemarle is a small boutique hotel. You won’t find any well known hotel chains on the island and that’s helping to keep the money local while ensuring that the island doesn’t outgrow it’s world heritage status.

The wildlife on Isabela Island

Considering 97.5% of the Galapagos Islands is a national park and that the entire set of islands is surrounded by a huge marine reserve that’s second in size only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, you’re guaranteed to spot some amazing endemic wildlife on and around the island.

From sea lions and marine iguanas on the shores, hammerhead sharks and sea turtles in the water, to giant Galapagos tortoises and blue footed boobies on the land, you can also find the only tropical penguin in existence on Isabela Island. The Galapagos penguin often plays right beside the main dock in town and a few have even been known to show up around the beach in front of Hotel Albemarle.

If you’re in the Galapagos Islands to view wildlife, and let’s be realistic, almost everyone that goes there does, then Isabela Island is probably the island for you. Nearly every Tripadvisor review (see reviews here) concerning Isabela Island has one single gripe, that they didn’t budget more time to stay there. Well, that and the fact that they didn’t bring enough cash, since there aren’t any ATMs on Isabela Island.

Note: Most of the day trip operators and even a few restaurants take credit cards. Just make sure you verify that before going and note that most of the tour operators charge you more if you pay with a credit card. Like the rest of Ecuador, the US dollar is the main currency everywhere in the Galapagos Islands.

Around Hotel Albemarle and Puerto Villamil

From day trips to just hanging out on the beach, there are tons of things to do outside the Hotel Albemarle Isabela. Right in front of the hotel is a gorgeous beach complete with a volleyball court and small playground for the kids.

Off to the side is a protected marine iguana nesting site with dozens of marine iguanas basking in the sun or competing for mating rights and for an animal that spends the majority of the time just sitting there watching them fight can be quite entertaining.

To the other side of the beach there is the town jetty that makes for scenic views and, when we were there, they were getting ready to open a bar at the end of it.

Right next to the hotel is the town’s often boisterous enclosed football (soccer) field. For such a small town there are soccer games nearly every night and on the weekends it can get quite loud at times. Be prepared that if you’re in a room adjoining the field, don’t expect to get any sleep before 10:30 when the last game is often played.

Carlos informed me that the town is planning to move the football field further into town and setting up an open aired market in the paved zone in it’s place. This will be a great addition to the town as well as ensuring that people with early mornings can get the sleep they need.

Just down the sandy road that runs in front of the hotel, on the other side of the soccer field, is a series of chill out bars playing soft reggae while watching the waves break along the beach.

On the other side of the hotel runs the main street of Puerto Villamil, here is where you’ll find restaurant after restaurant featuring local delicacies as well as pizza, pasta and lots of fish. There’s also some of the bigger touring companies, a ferry company and some small grocery stores.

Note: Because the Galapagos Islands are so remote, over 600 miles or 1000 km’s from the mainland, supplies on the island can be hard to get at times. While we were there, the main cargo boat that supplies all the islands sank and all the stores and restaurants had mass shortages on stocks for a few weeks so a lot of menu items weren’t available while we there.

Animals of the Galapagos Islands

Some of the most scenic day trips you can do in the Galapagos Islands originate from Isabela Island so whether you’re taking one of the many tours or going it alone, there’s a lot to do for such a sleepy place. Carlos at Hotel Albemarle was great at giving us suggestions on where to go and most of all, when to go to get the most out of it.

Like most of the Galapagos Islands, you can be sure to see sea lions and marine iguanas just about everywhere you look as well as the remarkable frigate birds flying overhead. In the wetlands of the island you can see pink flamingos and common stilts and Darwin’s finches exist near land and sea.

Under the water you can see hammerhead sharks as well as plenty of sea turtles, stingrays, manta rays and sea horses. If you’re snorkeling there’s a good chance you’ll be visited by an inquisitive sea lion and, if you’re lucky, the only tropical penguin in the world, the Galapagos penguin.

Day trips from Isabela Island

Some of the more notable day trips from Isabela Island include our favorite, snorkeling at Los Tuneles with it’s lava channels and tunnels where you’ll see plenty of sea turtles, reef sharks and the the blue-footed booby.

For the hikers there’s the Sierra Negra Volcano which is the second largest active volcano in the world. This 16 km walk will take you to the rim where you’ll see spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding islands.

Want to take a tour? Viator offers a few trips to and from Isabela Island.

See trip prices and details here.

If you want to see the only tropical penguin in the world up close then you’ll want to do the Tintoreras tour. On this tour they take you across the channel from the dock to explore the little islands where the penguin resides. Expect to see plenty of sea lions and you get to look down on some amazing shark nesting channels on a small hike.

If you want to get your feet wet you can hit any of the many beaches throughout town or the one across from Hotel Albemarle. However if you want to do some snorkeling, then Concha de Perla is where you want to go. Grab the wooden pathway beside the main dock and walk for a minute until you get to the small dock and jump in. You can see everything from sea turtles to reef sharks at the Concha de Perla.

If you want to see some giant Galapagos tortoises then you’ll want to take the wooden walkway just past Iguana Crossing that will take you over lagoons and swamps filled with flamingos and stilts to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. It’s around a 30 minute walk and you’ll get to see some of the giant tortoises first hand. If you’re tired from the walk, just take a 5 minute taxi back to town.

If you want a little tragic history, you’ll want to rent a bike and bike down to the Wall of Tears. It’s around 5 km from town and can get quite hot if you don’t go in the morning or late afternoon but it’s an interesting bike down well marked roads where you can stop at quiet lagoons and totally secluded beaches.

What you need to know about the Hotel Albemarle Galapagos

Hotel Albemarle is in the small town of Puerto Villamil, on Isabela Island in the Galapagos, Ecuador. It’s a stone’s throw from the town’s restaurants and shops.

Check TripAdvisor reviews.

Check prices and availability now.

You can find out more about the Albemarle Hotel on their website.

The four of us were pelted by rain and salt water spray for almost the entire two and a half hour ferry ride from Isla Isabela to Santa Cruz. That ferry ride from Hades is a story we’ll tell another time, but it’s enough to say that we would have probably sold all our worldly possessions for a warm shower and a dry towel right then.

Luckily, the folks at Red Mangrove Hotel Galapagos were happy to help.

Check prices and hotel information here.

We trudged into their lobby as wet as if we’d swum right out of the ocean, and they didn’t bat an eye. The staff just helped us carry our soaking wet luggage to our room, where we used their dry towels and piping hot shower to restore ourselves.

Then we got to work drying three suitcases worth of wet clothes, plus the soaking wet clothes we wore on the ferry.

Luckily for us, the Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge had a de-humidifier in our room. It’s the first time we’ve ever been in a hotel that included one. It was a huge help drying out our stacks of clothes that got soaked by rain on the ferry from Isla Isabela to Santa Cruz and it made what could have been an otherwise long ordeal into barely an inconvenience.

The best part of Red Mangrove!

One of the best features of the Red Mangrove Hotel in Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz is its friendly residents. Yup, you guessed it, they’re the sea lions that lounge everywhere on the benches and boardwalk that surround the property.

We dropped by the boardwalk several times during our stay and the sea lions were always there, often joined by some cheeky marine iguanas.

Tip! No need to go searching for wildlife on the island of Santa Cruz, when you stay at the Red Mangrove, the wildlife comes to you!

The coastal location does mean that Red Mangrove’s restaurant and boardwalk have a stunning view of the azure waters of the Santa Cruz Port.

Hands down, besides for the fact that our room included a de-humidifier, our favorite parts of the hotel were the ocean side boardwalk and pier.

About the rooms at Red Mangrove

While I believe most of Red Mangrove’s rooms are on upper floors or with great views facing Academy Bay, we had a family room on the main floor, halfway between the lobby and the hotel’s entrance. It was quiet, roomy, fully equipped and clean, but if I go back, I would spend a few dollars more and stay in an ocean side or upper level room with views of the sea for our next visit.

Our family room had two single beds, plus one queen. They were both comfy, but the single beds had an extra layer of comfort from a small memory foam topper. We almost kicked the kids out of their beds so we could sleep in the comfy singles!

Our room came complete with it’s own enclosed courtyard so it would make a great place for families with small children to roam about safely.

Important: Just after we stayed there, Hotel Red Mangrove was bought by the folks at Haugan Cruises, who also happen to own the same La Selva Lodge we stayed at during our stay in the Amazon a few weeks before. Haugan Cruises has a great reputation in the Galapagos,  and we’re looking forward to seeing the improvements they bring! While we stayed there it was called the Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge, and it’s now re-branded to be known as the Red Mangrove Hotel by Haugan Cruises.

Check prices and hotel information here.

About the mangroves

The hotel has a unique coastal location among the mangroves (thus the Red Mangrove name). If you’ve ever spent much time by the ocean, you’ll know that mangroves are a vital part of a coastal ecosystem. They provide nutrients, and are home to many species of birds and wildlife.

Unfortunately, mangroves often have a stagnant water smell. We found this stale smell to be minimal at Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge, however it was definitely present, especially on the walkway after the unusually heavy rains when we arrived. Also, there are only a few rooms set within the mangroves themselves at the Red Mangrove Hotel, since most of the rooms are overlooking the water.

Note: You may see the hotel occasionally called the Hotel Mangle Rojo (which is just Red Mangrove translated into Spanish).

Red Mangrove restaurant – what’s there to eat?

While we were there, the Red Mangrove Restaurant offered pretty much only sushi for supper. We aren’t sushi lovers (and Micki and the kids are vegetarian), so we didn’t get a chance to try it out though it got decent enough reviews. It was also on the higher end of the price scale.

Isla Grill at the Red Mangrove Hotel

If you’re a lover of sushi, you probably would have enjoyed the Red Mangrove restaurant, however we just found out that the new owners are completely redoing the restaurant at Red Mangrove. The new restaurant is going to be called the Isla Grill and will offer both traditional and international foods with unique surf and turf meals. There will also be pizzas, burgers, salads and I’m guessing great breakfast options if it’s anything like the food we ate at the award winning La Selva Lodge. We want to go back just to try them out.

See TripAdvisor reviews here for the old Red Mangrove Restaurant

While we were there, the Red Mangrove hotel did offer breakfast and lunch as part of an inclusive meal deal, however we didn’t opt for it, so we ate in town most days during our stay on the island. In some ways it’s too bad we didn’t get a chance to review their breakfast offerings, however the breakfasts are going to change when the restaurant soon re-opens as the Isla Grill.

Tip! If you’d like to visit the restaurant to check out the sea lions and gorgeous views, come during the evening happy hour, where you can get 2 for 1 drinks.

How to book

Check prices and availability here.

It may be easiest to book a room at the hotel through booking sites like Expedia or Hotels.com.

You can also book directly with the hotel, although you’ll have to fill out a clunky contact form on their website.

Tip! Book an ocean side or upper level room to get gorgeous views and lots of natural light and air flow.

Check prices and availability here.

Want to find out more?

If you want to find out more, visit the hotel’s website, or see them on Facebook or Twitter. Due to the fact that it’s under new ownership, we expect the hotel to undergo a few changes and, if it’s anything like La Selva, probably for the better.

If you’re interested in SCUBA diving in the Galapagos Islands, there’s also a well regarded SCUBA center at the Red Mangrove hotel. Check their reviews here.

The hotel also offers free bike rentals.

Where is the Hotel Red Mangrove Galapagos?

The Red Mangrove Hotel Galapagos is on the island of Santa Cruz, in the town of Puerto Ayora. It’s on the west side of town, and a little isolated from the busy town itself. That said, it was only a quick five minute walk to the main part of Charles Darwin Avenue, where we found more restaurants and souvenir shops than we could count.

If you’re flying in, you’ll land on nearby Baltra Island to the north and be taken for free by bus and ferry over to Santa Cruz, where you can take a taxi to get to the hotel. If you’re flying from the Galapagos Islands, the hotel can help you order a taxi that will get you to the ferry that will take you to the airport.

The hotel is about a 15 minute walk from the pier along nice paved roads or you can grab a taxi for under two dollars. If you go east, the Charles Darwin Research Center is just a few minutes down the road and is definitely worth a visit.

We haven’t visited the Galapagos yet, but I’m looking forward to a day when I get to take our two little ones and chat with them about Darwin’s famous finches.

I’ve spent so much time scouring through photos and blogs in preparation, in fact, that I thought I’d share some of these with you.

I’m happy to note that most of these fantastic photos were taken by fellow travel bloggers. You can find even more of their great photos here on our Galapagos Dreaming Pinterest board.