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Galápagos penguin on lava rock
Island guideToursStay Updated Nov 6, 2026

Isabela, Galápagos

The biggest island and the quietest town: a sandy village street, flamingo lagoons, penguins on the islets in the bay and the huge Sierra Negra caldera.

  • 7tours from here
  • $84median hotel night
  • Puerto Villamilmain town
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 3.0

Short answer: Isabela is for Los Túneles (the best snorkel of a land-based trip), penguins at Tintoreras, flamingos and the Sierra Negra volcano. Stay at least 2 nights: the ferry from Santa Cruz takes about 2 hours each way.

  • Main townPuerto Villamil
  • Getting thereFerry from Santa Cruz 06:00, 14:00 (back 05:00, 14:00) or small plane from Baltra or San Cristóbal
  • Dock fee$10 for foreigners on arrival
  • Hotelsmedian $84 a night (our Feb 2027 check)
EQUATOR · 0° Volcán Wolf≈ 1,670 mVolcán Wolf: highest point about 1,670 m in the GMRT elevation gridCerro Azul≈ 1,650 mCerro Azul: highest point about 1,650 m in the GMRT elevation gridSierra Negra≈ 1,110 mSierra Negra: highest point about 1,110 m in the GMRT elevation gridAlcedo≈ 1,130 mAlcedo: highest point about 1,130 m in the GMRT elevation gridVolcán Darwin≈ 1,370 mVolcán Darwin: highest point about 1,370 m in the GMRT elevation gridLa Cumbre≈ 1,440 mLa Cumbre (Fernandina): highest point about 1,440 m in the GMRT elevation gridSanta Cruz highlands≈ 820 mSanta Cruz highlands: highest point about 820 m in the GMRT elevation gridSan Cristóbal highlands≈ 680 mSan Cristóbal highlands: highest point about 680 m in the GMRT elevation gridSantiago≈ 890 mSantiago: highest point about 890 m in the GMRT elevation gridPinta≈ 610 mPinta: highest point about 610 m in the GMRT elevation grid ISABELAFERNANDINASANTIAGOSANTA CRUZSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANAESPAÑOLAPINTAMARCHENAGENOVESASANTA FEPINZÓNBALTRA North SeymourBartoloméSanta FeSouth PlazaPinzónKicker RockLos TúnelesTintorerasTortuga BaySierra NegraPunta SuárezEl Chato Puerto AyoraPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPuerto VillamilPuerto Velasco Ibarra ✈GPSBaltra (GPS)✈SCYSan Cristóbal (SCY)✈IBBIsabela (IBB) 🐢Giant tortoises🐧Penguins🐧Penguins🦶Blue-footed boobies🦩Flamingos🦩Flamingos🦭Sea lions in town🦎Marine iguanas🦦Flightless cormorants🕊Waved albatross (Apr–Dec)🔴Red-footed boobies🐠Turtles & sharks (snorkel)🦈White-tip sharks 010 km N
sea depth 3,000 m → shore land 0 → 1,400 m+ FerryAirportTown Relief and depth: GMRT (Ryan et al. 2009, CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation.

What to see and do

Galápagos sea lion in the lava channels at Los Túneles, Isabela
Boat trip

Los Túneles

Lava arches in clear water: turtles, white-tip sharks, seahorses, and blue-footed boobies nesting on the rocks.

Galápagos penguin on lava rock
Half-day boat

Tintoreras islet

A short boat ride from the pier: penguins, marine iguanas and white-tip sharks resting in a lava channel.

The Sierra Negra caldera on Isabela
Day hike

Sierra Negra volcano

Walk the rim of the vast caldera and on to the lava fields of Volcán Chico.

American flamingo in a Galápagos lagoon
Free walk-in

Flamingo lagoons and the breeding centre

Lagoons behind the village, the Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise centre (35,807 visits in 2025) and the Wall of Tears.

Tours from Isabela

Every Isabela listing on GetYourGuide →

Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Compare every tour on all islands: day-tour finder.

Where to stay on Isabela

A double room in Puerto Villamil costs about $57 at the budget end, $84 mid-range and $205 or more at the top (Google Hotels, February 2027).

HotelStarsNight, 2 adults
Posada del Caminante★★$35
Hotel Tero Real★★★$40
Penguin house–$55
Sierra Negra★★★$57
Hostal Galapagos by Bar de Beto★★★$59
Hotel Sula Sula - Classic Double Room with Balcony–$81
San Vicente Galapagos Hotel★★★$84
La Laguna Galapagos Hotel★★★$84

See Puerto Villamil hotels for your dates Which island to stay on?

Fit it into your trip

Itinerary planner · Ferry board · Trip cost · Best month · Wildlife bingo

Sources (9)· checked 2026-11-06

Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.