Isabela Archives - royalgalapagos.com Magnificent Galapagos & Ecuador Journeys Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:49:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-rg-ico-32x32.png Isabela Archives - royalgalapagos.com 32 32 Punta Vicente Roca (Jun-Dec) https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/isabela-punta-vicente-roca-jun-dic/ Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:51:13 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=5436 Highlighting an enormous amount of the “small stuff”, Punta Vicente Roca offers up a sweet home to octopi, sea horses, red-lipped batfish, frogfish, and nudibranchs. The mola mola, or sun fish has been spotted here as well. Highlights: This drift wall dive will bring you up close and personal to a long list of invertebrates […]

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]]> Highlighting an enormous amount of the “small stuff”, Punta Vicente Roca offers up a sweet home to octopi, sea horses, red-lipped batfish, frogfish, and nudibranchs. The mola mola, or sun fish has been spotted here as well.

Highlights:This drift wall dive will bring you up close and personal to a long list of invertebrates including sponges and flat worms. Keep your eyes peeled for the endemic camotillo and the occasional Port Jackson shark! 
Experience:Minimum open water diver with good buoyancy control
Depth:Average dive depth 20 M (66 ft)
CurrentsMild to none
Water Temp: 17-24 C (62-76 F), depending on the season and special conditions
Thermoclines:Variable; often below 20 m (66 ft)
Difficulty: Beginner
Visibility:8-15 m (26-49 ft)
Unique Animals:Camotillo

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]]> Cape Marshall (Jan-May) https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/isabela-cape-marshall-jan-may/ Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:12:04 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=5336 A near-vertical wall of volcanic rock that plummets to the bottom of the sea, this dive site boasts the big stuff: manta rays, hammerheads, sun fish (Mola mola), and sometimes huge schools of the endemic salema.  Highlights: Not only is the topogrpahy of this site distinct and fascinating, but so is the marine life! The […]

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]]> A near-vertical wall of volcanic rock that plummets to the bottom of the sea, this dive site boasts the big stuff: manta rays, hammerheads, sun fish (Mola mola), and sometimes huge schools of the endemic salema. 

Highlights:Not only is the topogrpahy of this site distinct and fascinating, but so is the marine life! The “usual” sea turtles and sea lions swim along with you and the Chevron barracuda, yellow fin tuna, marbled rays, mobula rays, snappers, and more!
Experience:Minimum advanced open water and 30 dives. Experience with current, walls, and good buoyancy needed.
Depth:10-35 m (33-98 feet)
CurrentsStrong
Water Temp: 17C-23C / 63F-73F, depending on the season and special conditions
Thermoclines:Prevalent at approximately 14 m (45 ft)
Difficulty: Advanced
Visibility:3 – 10 m (10-33 feet)
Unique Animals:The Galapagos black-striped salema
Interesting facts: The red-lipped batfish can be found here, although no night diving is permitted in Galapagos, so it will be tricky to find them!

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]]> Coka Port (Jan-May) https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/isabela-coka-port-jan-may/ Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:54:55 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=5333 You can see garden eels, starfish, coral fish, sea turtles, sea lions, blacktip reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks.

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]]> You can see garden eels, starfish, coral fish, sea turtles, sea lions, blacktip reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks.

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]]> The Wall of Tears https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/the-wall-of-tears/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:42:09 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=2989 From 1945-1959, a penal colony hosted prisoners who were forced to build this wall, stone by stone, in isolation. This now historical site (El Muro de las Lágrimas), towering at 65 feet (25 m) high, took the lives of thousands during its construction. Locals claim to hear cries emanating from the heavy energy surrounding the […]

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]]> From 1945-1959, a penal colony hosted prisoners who were forced to build this wall, stone by stone, in isolation. This now historical site (El Muro de las Lágrimas), towering at 65 feet (25 m) high, took the lives of thousands during its construction. Locals claim to hear cries emanating from the heavy energy surrounding the site.

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]]> The Wetlands https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/the-wetlands/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:37:53 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=2982 The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.

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]]> The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.

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]]> Vicente Roca Point https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/vicente-roca-point/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:29:33 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=2975 Located on the northwestern coast of the island and comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (sunfish) may be spotted here. This bay is great for diving and snorkeling.

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]]> Located on the northwestern coast of the island and comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (sunfish) may be spotted here. This bay is great for diving and snorkeling.

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]]> Urbina Bay https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/urbina-bay/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:25:53 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=2969 Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954 causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also […]

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]]> Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954 causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkeling.

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]]> Tintoreras Islet https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/tintoreras-islet/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:13:40 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=2963 The Tintoreras Islet, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil, is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.

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]]> The Tintoreras Islet, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil, is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.

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]]> Tagus Cove https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/tagus-cove/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:09:25 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=2957 Tagus Cove is located across from Fernandina Island near the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views. Punta Tortuga, just north of Tagus Cove, is another lovely […]

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]]> Tagus Cove is located across from Fernandina Island near the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views. Punta Tortuga, just north of Tagus Cove, is another lovely beach surrounded by mangroves.

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]]> Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center https://www.royalgalapagos.com/visitor_points/arnaldo-tupiza-breeding-center/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:04:11 +0000 https://www.royalgalapagos.com/?post_type=visitor_points&p=2951 This Tortoise Breeding Center was created to protect animals in their first years of life from the threats of foreign species such as pigs and donkeys. Giant tortoise eggs are collected and brought to the center where they are hatched and kept for five years before being released to their natural environment. 

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]]> This Tortoise Breeding Center was created to protect animals in their first years of life from the threats of foreign species such as pigs and donkeys. Giant tortoise eggs are collected and brought to the center where they are hatched and kept for five years before being released to their natural environment. 

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