Isabela's small, laid-back town of Puerto Villamil sits on the calmer southeast coast, and there is plenty to see within walking distance. The wilder west coast, with its whale-watching waters and volcanic scenery, is reached only by cruise.
A short walk from town, one of the best places to see migratory birds, and a breeding centre where you can see hatchlings and older tortoises.
A sobering 6km walk to a wall built by prisoners of a penal colony between 1944 and 1959, a chilling reminder of the island's harder history.
One of the most striking volcanoes in the Galapagos, arguably the second largest caldera in the world, best seen from a small side cone with relatively fresh lava flows.
A remote northern promontory, cruise-only, where the water teems with dolphins, whales, sea lions and a small colony of fur seals.
A panga ride into the mangroves looking for penguins standing sentinel on the rocks, and turtles and rays gliding beneath the boat.
Giant tortoises and brightly coloured land iguanas on a coastal terrace uplifted by a volcanic eruption in 1954.
We choose the right hotel for you from several we know well, in or around Puerto Villamil or up in the highlands.
Spacious tented rooms with an elevated view down to the coast, twenty minutes from Puerto Villamil.
A stylish beachfront hotel a short walk from town, ideal for exploring the coastal visitor sites at an easy pace.
A relaxed, family-run beachfront hotel, one of the longest established places to stay in town.
A small, ten-room hotel facing a lovely sandy beach, within easy walking distance of town.
Isabela is good year-round, though the west coast whale-watching waters are best from around June onwards, and the cooler months bring calmer conditions for the highland volcano hikes.
See our full when to go guide →
A tented lodge in the highlands, with a different excursion each day.
A relaxed two-centre trip with plenty of time to swim, walk and cycle.
A week at sea, then volcanoes and rainforest on mainland Costa Rica.
One specialist, start to finish, building a trip just for you.
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