Isabela Island - Beautiful Island of Ecuador

Isabela island is a seahorse shaped island and is the largest of all the islands, measuring 120 km longer and greater in size than all of the other islands combined. The island was originally named Albemarle Island for the Duke of Albemarle. There are 5 volcanoes on the island that still produce volcanic activity.

Isabela provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the spectacular marine mammals of the Galapagos Islands especially whales and dolphins. Scuba diving tours through subterranean passages off the coast lead to a secluded cove abundant with marine life. The waters around Isabela are the best in the Galapagos for whale watching. The Cromwell Current up welling creates a nutrient-rich feeding ground attracting a wide variety of species including humpback whales, sperm whales and orcas. 

In addition to the many marine mammals of the Galapagos found here, Isabela is home to more land tortoises than any of the other islands. Tourists also are likely to encounter blue-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, marine turtles and even the rare Flightless Cormorant.

Tourists who wish to stay in Isabela find the settlement of Puerto Villamil to be laid back and welcoming. The white, sandy beaches and quiet lagoons are the quintessential Galapagos experience.

The western side of the island is not accessible but you can have a great time at the Puerto Villamil. There are cabins available here at a very low price on a daily basis.  When in Puerto Villamil another place to visit is the Santo Tomas or you can trek to the Muro Las Lagrimas. It is a historical place  reportedly built by convicts. During nesting season, you can find countless marine turtles and their nests.

The Charles Darwin Foundation is looking for volunteers to help them mark nests. If you've got the time, sign up to get an up close and hands on experience with these amazing animals. Snorkeling is fantastic as well as the ambiance

An Albino Darwin's Finch was seen in Galapagos.

An Albino Darwin's Finch was seen in Galapagos Islands on the border of the Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island.

The Excursionists were very excited about this sighting that happened while doing the excurcion the volcano Sierra Negra organized by Nature Galapagos & Ecuador.

"Albino animals are extremely rare and unusual. They have all the characteristics of others of their species except they are all white in color. Not one inch of their natural coloring comes through as their bodies are unable to produce a pigment known as melanin. Melanin creates the normal pigmentation and coloring in an animal’s skin, fur or scales. This lack of melanin generally results in the animal looking bleached all over, appearing white or pink.

Being white doesn’t mean an animal is albino. The true test is in the eye coloration. All albino animals have pink/red eyes whereas white animals with blue eyes are called leucistic, which means they may have a reduced amount of pigmentation in relation to a normal specimen of their species but it is not as severe as albinism. We have some of both pictured here.

Albinism is an inherited trait and is passed from adult to young. An albino offspring is formed from a specific combination of genes coming together in any species. Albinos are rare because the genes which cause albinism are recessive and rarely occur." Source: Factzoo.com