Wetlands to Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, Isabela, Galapagos

My favorite afternoon walk in Isabela starts at the end of town before the Wall of Tears, look for the trailhead right beside the Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel.

The extensive boardwalk over the wetlands has plenty of iguanas on the banister, but bird is the word.

We saw plenty of white cheeked pintails on the Galapagos, but this was the only place that there were chicks! And plenty!

Tons of flamingos feed in the shallow waters, so close and unaffected.

How can they be so gawky, yet so elegant?

I’ve never seen their bizarre method of filtering out water from their beaks, upside down.


Look for lava heron lurking in the low branches, watching for prey.

Planks give way to packed dirt and the environment changes.

Strange and beautiful trees with orchid like blossoms.

The endemic Galapagos Lava Lizard is stark in contrast.

At the end of the trail is the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center – free to explore, donations are welcome. View the tortoises at their various stages of growth – one day to be released into the wild.

Inside is an informational exhibit which talks to the difficulties that these creatures must endure to survive.

If you’d like to extend your walk, head down the road (beware of cars) to the right and soon you will reach another lake, a flamingo feeding site.

It is the place where I saw the most flamingos in one area on the archipelago,

coupuled with other birds too. I love this free and fun solo adventure teeming with wildlife on Isabela, it’s a must when visiting the island.

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4 Responses to Wetlands to Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, Isabela, Galapagos

  1. julieovaltrades says:

    Before humans came, and brought dogs and cats, there were no predators.

  2. usfman says:

    What predators on the islands endanger the giant tortoises?

  3. julieovaltrades says:

    They are predominantly on certain islands, a lot on Isabela, and a few on North Seymour…also Floreana which I did not have a chance to visit.

  4. ospreyshire says:

    Great photos! I didn’t see any flamingos when I was in the Galapagos though.

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