Tintoreras Tour

 Thursday, June 26, 2025

On what had to be the bumpiest boat ride of my life, we finally made it to Isabela Island at 10:00 am. The day started early with a 4:00 am wake-up, which gave us an opportunity for our morning workout, coffee and bathroom business. We also received great news from Alex, who passed his first CFA exam.

Isabela Island is the largest in the Galápagos and was born from six volcanoes, some of which are still  active. It’s a wildlife haven, home to giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and rare flightless cormorants found nowhere else on Earth.

Our first excursion was a short, spectacular boat ride around the harbor where we were treated with close-up viewing of penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, and blue-footed boobies. The boobies stole the show with their long beaks, brown wings, white bodies, and of course, their unmistakable bright blue feet. We learned that their foot color actually signals their health — the bluer the feet, the more attractive they are to potential mates.

The next stop was back on land as we visited Islote Tintoreras, where we were amazed by the expansive lava fields, which contrasted beautifully with the turquoise waters. While strolling along the black ash path, we were pleasantly surprised to see a couple of sharks slowly gliding through the crystal-clear water.

Next, we were in the water for a short snorkeling adventure. Besides some colorful coral, the highlight was swimming with a couple of sea turtles. It reminded me of our time in the Philippines when we swam with these peaceful creatures.

It was lunchtime, and it’s one I won’t soon forget — not so much for the food, which was actually quite good, but for the amazing beach view. The soft white sand, black lava rocks, marine iguanas, and turquoise water all played a role in creating this masterpiece. I’m pretty sure that we’ll return to this spot to soak in more of its pure beauty.

Our last stop was to the giant tortoise reserve, where we learned about the ongoing work to preserve these tremendous animals. On Isabela Island, there are five different subspecies, each tied to a different volcano. These tortoises have adapted over time to their unique environment, leading to differences in size, shell shape (domed, saddleback) and behavior depending on the island’s vegetation and terrain. Some of these ancient creatures were over 100 years old, and watching them slowly move through their habitat was like stepping back in time.