Compared to the bustling town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, Puerto Villamil strikes a remarkable contrast, with quiet streets and a serene atmosphere. While there are several excellent hotels and restaurants in town, Villamil really hasn't changed much since it was originally established as a small fishing village on the southern shores of Isabela Island. A beach is a great place for surfers to try to catch a wave. It's also close to attractions like the Wetlands, the tortoise breeding center, the Wall of Tears, Tintoreras, Concha de Perla Beach, and the mighty Sierra Negra Volcano. However, since Isabela is the largest of the Galapagos Islands, sites on the western and northern coasts and on neighboring Fernandina have access usually restricted to cruises. Contact us to get started planning your trip today!
What to do in Puerto Villamil
The quiet town of Villamil is the westernmost village in the Galapagos Islands. More than a century after it was founded, it still maintains its original charm as a small fishing village, but has grown just enough to feature luxurious boutique hotels and a number of local attractions that can be easily accessed from the town, including:
The Tortoise Breeding Center – A breeding center where tortoises are raised from egg to maturity and kept in pens where they can be easily seen and cared for.
Flamingo Lagoon – A brackish lagoon where flamingos and other landbirds frequently feed.
The Wall of Tears – A harrowing reminder of the time when Isabela was used as a penal colony and the prisoners were forced to labor building a wall of lava rock.
The Wetlands – A network of lagoons and mangroves that form a fascinating biosphere between the land and sea.
Las Tintoreras – A great place for a panga ride where reef sharks patrol the turquoise waters.
Concha de Perla Beach – A relaxing, sun-kissed beach great for soaking in the sun or catching a wave on a surfboard.
Sierra Negra Volcano – The active volcano that features a phenomenal caldera that stretches 10-km across.
Volcan Chico – A neighboring volcano to the Sierra Negra where sulfur fields make for an other-worldly landscape.
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.