Step into
the past in Puerto Villamil where the streets are made of sand. Puerto
Villamil is Puerto Ayora twenty years ago, and now is the time to visit
before it's overrun with tourism. Isabela, being the largest island
in the Archipelago, is not often visited because most animal life is
on the western side - too far for some cruise ships.
Here, you can see the second largest volcanic crater in the world -
Sierra Negra. On the western side are the penguin and flightless cormorant
colonies, the only flightless cormorant in the world. Again, the only
way to get to these colonies is via a bigger, more expensive cruise,
or a longer, two-week cruise. Anyway, in 2008 there is a colony of more than 40 Galapagos penguins just in Puerto Villamil. Now you have a great opportunity to snorkel with them !.
Even though you can't make it to the western side of the island, Puerto
Villamil is worth a week. You can rent a cabin on the beach for about
$35.00/day in low season. Split amongst friends, it turns out to be
pretty inexpensive. You can hire horses to get to Santo Tomas or trek
to the Muro de las Lagrimas, a historical visitor site reportedly
built by convicts. There are countless marine turtles as well as nests.
Oftentimes, during nesting season, The Charles Darwin Foundation is
looking for volunteers to help them mark nests. If you've got the time,
sign up to get an up close and hands on experience with these amazing
animals. Snorkeling is fantastic as well as the ambiance.
You also can visit walking Concha Perla, the Centro de Crianza and Los humedales, with the Flamingo lagoon
If posible, take a boat to Los Tuneles in cabo rosas, it is amazing place where you will enjoy snorkeling. The entry it is a little bit scary. Be sure that the boat has all security items and life jackets.
Bus
There
are trips twice/day to the highlands (7:00 and 12:00). Buses leave from
the market to Marianitas, Sto. Tomas, La Cura and La Esperanza.
In
la Cura you can hire a truck for excursions around the village or rent
horses. It is a 20 minute hike from La Cura to the Sierra Negra volcano.

Satellital Images courtesy of NASA
There
are restaurants and a small store to buy food. Always check on prices
and taxes before ordering.
Visitor Sites:
Punta
Moreno
Tangus
Cove
Punta
Tortuga
Urvina
Bay
Villamil
Sierra
Negra Volcano
Alcedo
Volcano
Punta
Albemarle
Elizabeth
Bay
Punta
Garcia