Isabela Island Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Isabela Island. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• LA PINTA DARWIN'S LEGACY (Fri-Thurs)

• 6-Day Galapagos Island Hopping Tour: Santa Fe, Santa Cruz and Los Tuneles

• 7-day Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure Expedition

• Galapagos Enchanting 3 Islands (5 Days)

• 4-Day Galapagos Complete Experience + extra night

To visit Isabela Island, you'll need to buy both a US$20 tourist transit card and an admission ticket for the archipelago. For non-Ecuadorian tourists, these cost US$200 for adults and US$100 for children. Some multi-day tours include these passes, but it's best to check the inclusions carefully before you book.

The main attractions on Isabela Island include the Sierra Negra volcano, a bird-watching hot spot with hiking trails that lead to the caldera, and Las Tintoreras—volcanic formations known for their sea turtles, marine iguanas, and white-tip reef sharks swimming among the lava tubes. Another highlight is the Wall of Tears, a monument to a former penal colony.

As the largest island in the Galapagos archipelago, Isabela offers a wealth of outdoor activities. The top things to do involve getting wet: You can snorkel, scuba dive, or surf, or opt for hiking along volcanic trails or to secluded beaches where sea lions lounge.

The Galapagos Islands make up one of the most biodiverse places in the world, so Isabela boasts an abundance of wildlife. You can see South American fur seals while snorkeling, some of the 6,000 Galapagos tortoises that call the island home, and even powder-pink flamingoes.

You won't find any high-rise hotels on the Galapagos Islands; accommodations on Isabela Island range from boutique beachfront options and mid-range hotels, within easy reach of the port, to backpacker hostels for travelers on tight budgets. Many visitors arrive on cruises, so they sleep in their cabins.