Land area: 4588 sq km Highest peak: 1707 m (highest peak on all of Galápagos)

Isabela is the biggest island of the archipelago and occupies about 60% of all the land area of Galápagos. It was formed by the volcanoes Cerro Azul, Sierra Negra (Santa Tomás), Alcedo, Darwind, Wolf and Ecuador that conflated to one island. All except Volcán Ecuador, which is older, are still active today. Even though Isabela has several visiting sites, it is not very frequented by tourists. Most of the landing sites are on the west coast and only larger boats make this long journey or if you take a longer cruise (a week or more).

The small port Puerto Villamil (about 3000 inhabitants) is the main settlement on the island. There is also a small airport. This town is a good base if you plan to stay longer on Isabela. It is the best place to hire a boat (that is necessary if you want to get to know the island as it cannot be crossed on country way). The area offers beautiful beaches and it takes a 20-minutes march to get to Laguna de Villamil. This is the favorite place of birdwatchers on all islands. Flamingos can be seen here as well as about twenty different kinds of wading birds.
If you like mountains you can also climb the Volcán Sierra Negra (1490m) from Puerto Villamil. A van takes you up to the village Santo Tomás (20km) and from there you can walk or ride up on horseback to the rim of the volcano (9km). On the top you have a magnificent view over the 10km-wide caldera. There is a trail that takes you to some active fumaroles. This area is home to short-eared owls, finches, flycatchers and Galápagos hawks.

Muro de las Lágrimas (Wall of Tears) is a visitor site west of Puerto Villamil. It is said that convicts constructed this wall (8 m high, 200 m long).

On the southern west coast, Punta Morena is situated. On the rocky shores you can usually see penguins and a great variety of shore birds (including flamingos if you are lucky). There is a trail leading through the lava rocks.
The Bolívar Channel between Fernandina and Isabela is often frequented by whales. So you might want to look out for circles of smooth water – they are whale “footprints”.

In front of the Bahía Elisabeth there are the Mariela Islas where you are often welcomed by penguins. This bay is known for its variety of undersea life. Snorkelers encounter marine turtles and rays. But as the water is very clear you can also observe them from a panga. The coastline is covered with mangroves that are home to seabirds and herons.

Urbina Bay is located at the base of Volcán Alcedo. In 1954 there was an uplift that rose the shoreline suddenly as far as 1 km out to the sea. A trail takes you to a coral reef that is now up on dry land. This is a good site to see flightless cormorants, marine iguanas and pelicans.

Farer up to the north, Tagus Cove is located. A panga ride along the coast offers, next to a variety of seabirds, historical graffiti. In former time it was a favorite anchorage ground and the sailors scratched the names of their vessels into the cliffs. The tourist trail passes Laguna Darwin (salt water lagoon) and takes you to various lava formations and a ridge where you have a great view.

Punta Tortuga is a beautiful beach surrounded by mangroves. Look out for the mangrove finch that only lives on Isabela y Fernandina.

At the northernmost point of the island lies Punto Albermarle, which was once a US radar base. Today it is known for flightless cormorant that you can well observe from your boat (no visitor site). A good place to snorkel is Punta Vicente Roca close by, at the base of Volcán Ecuador.

The only landing site on the eastern side of Isabela is Punta García. It is the starting point for a hike up to Volcán Alcedo. The caldera of the volcano is famous for its great number of endemic sub-species of giant tortoise and the steaming fumaroles. All the beautiful pictures of giant tortoises you have seen so far, were probably taken here.