Around Puerto Villamil

Galapagos Hawk photo by Karey Fuhs

By Karey Fuhs

West of the town center, there is a scenic trail leading north off of the main road to two visitor sites. A short distance after the start of the trail, you will encounter La Poza de los Flamingos, a small lagoon where you can spot flamingoes and other migrant birds. Continuing north along the trail, you will find the Centro de Crianza de Tortuga Terrestre, a land tortoise breeding facility open to the public.

Shortly beyond the breeding facility, the trail merges with the main road and continues north toward Volcán Sierra Negra, an active volcano (1490m) 27-km from Puerto Villamil, where visitors can camp, horseback ride, hike, or simply enjoy nature. You can walk around the caldera, which is roughly 10-km in diameter, passing fumaroles and interesting lava formations, Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, finches and flycatchers.

Trips to the volcano with naturalist guides can be organized by tour agencies in Puerto Villamil, but if you decide to go it alone, you can hire private transportation from the town center to take you to Santo Tomás, a small settlement at the flanks of the volcano. From there, it is 9-km to the top of the volcano, which you can hike or complete on horseback. Horses can be rented in the town. Be sure to bring plenty of food, water and a compass—it’s easy to get lost.

Off the southeastern end of Puerto Villamil is the island of Las Tintoreras, which has nice views, hiking possibilities, and wildlife watching.

If you follow the coastline on the other end of town, you will eventually arrive at El Muro de las Lágrimas, The Wall of Tears, an instrument of torture used to punish the prisoners of a penal colony established on Isabela from 1945-1959. Although the site sounds grim, it provides an interesting bit of the island’s history and the long trail along the coast provides excellent scenic views and wildlife watching opportunities.