Best 5 Isabela Adventure Tours: An Honest Review

So, you’ve landed on Isabela Island, and seriously, the vibe here is just completely different from Santa Cruz. It’s a lot more spread out, and the streets are made of sand, which is, like, a really neat touch. Anyway, the big question is what to fill your days with, because there are quite a few choices for getting out and seeing things. You could probably just hang out on the beach the whole time, to be honest. But if you’re looking for a bit more action, you know, you’re going to want to look at some of the day trips. As a matter of fact, we’ve gone ahead and put together a look at five of the most popular adventure tours so you can figure out what’s a good fit for you.

1. The Sierra Negra Volcano Hike

Alright, first on the list is probably the most famous hike on the island, the trip up to the Sierra Negra volcano. Basically, this is an all-day kind of thing, so you have to be ready for that. A bus or a truck usually picks you up pretty early in the morning for a bumpy, yet sort of fun ride up into the highlands. As you go up, honestly, the change in the air and the plants is just so noticeable. You go from dry, coastal shrubs to this really green, misty area which is kind of wild.

The hike itself, you know, starts off fairly easy on a wide path. Still, it’s a steady climb, so after a little while you’ll definitely feel it in your legs. The big payoff, really, is when you finally get to the rim of the massive caldera. It is so big, like, you can’t really get your head around the scale of it from pictures. In fact, it’s one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world. Often, the far side is covered in clouds, which just makes it feel even more endless. From there, you can actually continue hiking across the more recent lava flows of Volcan Chico, which feels almost like walking on another planet with its weird, colorful mineral formations.

I mean, our guide was pointing out all these different types of lava rock, and honestly, it made the whole walk feel like a geology lesson, but, like, a really cool one. We actually saw a few Vermilion Flycatchers up in the highlands, which was a pretty amazing splash of color against all the green.

2. A Snorkeling Trip to Los Tuneles

Okay, if being in the water is more your style, then a tour to Los Tuneles is pretty much a must-do. You hear people talking about it all over town, and for good reason, you know. Getting there is part of the adventure, basically involving a speedboat ride that can be, well, a little bumpy depending on the sea. On the way, the boat captain often slows down to point out manta rays or other things in the water, which is a great bonus.

When you get there, you’ll see why it’s so special. The place is a literal maze of lava rock formations that create bridges and tunnels over these super clear, turquoise pools. It’s almost like a natural aquarium. The boat will motor around slowly so you can see the famous blue-footed boobies perched on the rocks, and sometimes, you might even see a Galapagos penguin, which is honestly just incredible. After the little boat tour, you get to jump in and snorkel. The water is typically very calm and a little cooler, which is a bit of a relief from the sun. You will almost definitely see giant sea turtles swimming around peacefully. Sometimes, they get so close you have to, like, swim out of their way. There are also tons of colorful fish, and if you look carefully in the little underwater caves, you can spot white-tipped reef sharks just resting on the sandy bottom, which is, at the end of the day, a completely harmless and amazing thing to see.

3. Kayaking and Exploring Las Tintoreras

So, for a shorter trip that is still packed with wildlife, you might want to look into the Las Tintoreras tour. This is, you know, a small group of islets just a quick boat ride away from the main pier in Puerto Villamil. You can often book a tour that combines a short walk on the island with some kayaking or snorkeling. Basically, the name ‘Tintoreras’ refers to the white-tipped reef sharks that are super common here, so that gives you an idea of the main attraction.

The walk itself is on a path made of jagged, black lava rock, so you really need good shoes. As a matter of fact, the trail leads you right past a channel where the sharks like to rest during the day. You can stand just a few feet above them and watch dozens of them hanging out in the clear water, which is just a little surreal. Honestly, the area is also overflowing with marine iguanas. You’ll see huge groups of them piled up on top of each other, sunbathing and sneezing out salt. It’s pretty much the best place to see them in these large numbers. After the walk, some tours give you a chance to snorkel in a nearby bay where you can often swim with sea lions, turtles, and lots of rays. It’s just a great, compact tour that doesn’t take up your entire day.

4. History and Nature at the Wall of Tears

Now, this next option is a bit different because it mixes a bit of somber human history with the island’s natural side. A visit to the Wall of Tears (El Muro de las Lágrimas) is a really interesting way to spend a few hours. Basically, you can actually do this on your own by renting a bike in town, which is a really popular way to do it. The path out to the wall is a dirt and sand road that’s about 5 kilometers long. It’s a nice, flat ride for the most part, you know.

The wall itself is, frankly, a pretty heavy sight. It was built by prisoners from a penal colony that was on the island between 1945 and 1959. It’s a huge, pointless wall standing in the middle of nowhere, and you just sort of feel the difficult history of the place when you look at it. On the way to and from the wall, however, there are lots of little side paths you can explore. These trails lead to different viewpoints, little beaches, and even some small lagoons where you might see flamingoes. A really important stop is the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center which is right on the main path. You can go in and see tortoises of all sizes, from tiny babies to massive adults, which is honestly very cool to see up close. It really gives you an appreciation for the conservation work happening here.

5. Relaxed Snorkeling at Concha de Perla

Finally, let’s talk about the most low-key “adventure” on this list, which is Concha de Perla. To be honest, it’s not really a tour at all, and that’s what makes it so great. It’s this beautiful, calm bay that’s connected to the ocean, right next to the main pier. To get there, you just have to walk down a wooden boardwalk that winds through a mangrove forest. You’ll often see sea lions sleeping right on the boardwalk, so you kind of have to step over them.

At the end of the walk, there’s a wooden deck where you can leave your things and get right into the water. Basically, it’s a protected spot, so the water is almost always very calm and clear. It’s the perfect place to go for a relaxing snorkel any time of day. You’re more or less guaranteed to swim with playful sea lions that will dart all around you. It’s also a great spot to see spotted eagle rays, turtles, and all kinds of fish. Seriously, for something that is completely free and so easy to get to, the amount of wildlife you can see is just amazing. It’s the perfect activity for an afternoon when you don’t want a big, scheduled tour, but still want to, you know, experience the magic of the Galapagos waters.

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