Tintoreras
Following breakfast, a visit to Tintoreras can be made, located south of Puerto Villamil. This site features a small bay with calm turquoise waters, where one can observe various marine life, such as sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, and rays. A crevice of clear water, shallow enough to close when the tide is low, connects to the bay. Reef sharks, small fish, and sea lions can be seen swimming in this area. Lunch will be served on board.
Breeding Center Arnaldo Tupiza
The Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center is another stop, where a captive breeding program is in place for tortoises from the southern Isabela populations.
Humedales
At Humedales, visitors will disembark for a dry landing and take a 30-minute walk through an area with sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. There are numerous trails in this area, where all four species of mangroves found in the Galapagos can be observed, along with migratory birds such as the whimbrel, short-billed dowitcher, Wilson’s phalarope, common tern, blue-winged teal, osprey, black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs, and others.
Wall of Tears
A bus ride will take visitors to the Wall of Tears, a somber reminder of Isabela's history as a penal colony from 1946 to 1959. As a punishment, prisoners were forced to construct the wall using large blocks of lava. The wall was named after the many convicts who died during its construction. Dinner will be served on board, followed by a briefing on the itinerary for the next day.
