6 Best Sights in The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The unattended National Park Tortoise Reserve is one of the few places in the archipelago where you can view giant Galápagos turtles in the wild. An unmarked track leads to the reserve from Santa Rosa. Along the way, keep alert for Galápagos hawks, Darwin finches, and short-eared owls. In Santa Rosa a small restaurant across from the church sometimes rents horses that you are allowed to ride inside the reserve.

A visitor center just outside Puerto Baquerizo Moreno explains the natural processes that have made the Galápagos such a unique place, delineates efforts to protect and preserve the islands, and serves as an education center for park personnel and naturalist guides. The three exhibits inside are Natural History, with illustrations of natural events and information on how different species arrived at the islands; Human History, covering events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands; and Conservation and Development, an introduction to the struggles of the ecosystems and preservation efforts under way. After viewing the exhibits, take a walk along winding paths leading from the Interpretation Center to Playa Punta Carola (about 35 minutes), a favorite of surfers, or on to Mann Beach for a swim and to Frigate Bird Hill, a nesting place for frigate birds. Along the way are plants, lava lizards, and other animals endemic to this area.

The road to Santa Rosa, 13 km (8 miles) beyond Bellavista, is lined with giant elephant grass, avocado and papaya trees, and boughs of yellow trumpet vines, all of which are in marked contrast to the dry, cactus-spotted lowlands. About 2 km (1 mile) beyond Santa Rosa, look for a pair of giant sinkholes called Los Gemelos (the Twins), one on either side of the road.

Isabela's other community is Santo Tomás, 18 km (11 miles) northwest of Puerto Villamil.

A more ambitious trek, requiring adequate planning and equipment, is 1,100-meter (3,600-foot) Volcán Alcedo. The site can be reached only by boat, after which a 10-km (6-mile) trail climbs over rough terrain. You cannot traipse around the island without a guide, and you'll need one here. Your rewards are stunning views and a chance to see the archipelago's largest population of Galápagos tortoises.

The island's signature excursion is a guided 9-km (5½-mile) trek ascending the 1,370-meter (4,488-foot) Volcán Sierra Negra. The volcano's crater—roughly 10 km (6 miles) in diameter—is the second-largest in the world. The volcano erupted in October 2005, but, thankfully, the event threatened none of the island's population, human or animal. Seismologists keep close watch on any untoward activity and will suspend excursions if needed.