Isla Isabel National Park

Isla Isabel (also known as Isla Santa Isabel) is an island in the Pacific Ocean, 35 km off the coast of Nayarit, Mexico. The island is a protected natural habitat with a population of 0 humans and over 40,000 birds.

Understand

History

Isla Isabel became part of the Mexico national parks system in 1980. It is a designated Ramsar wetland.

Landscape

It's a volcanic island that was formed about 3.5 million years ago. The main island is about 2 km long and about 3/4 km at its widest point. The center of the island is dominated by a lagoon and there are some small rocky islands close to shore with unusual formations.

Flora and fauna

The island is home to the blue-footed booby, the brown pelican, frigate birds, seagulls, and many other animal and plant species. Thousands of frigate birds build nests in short, scrubby garlic-pear trees. A seemingly endless carpet of seagulls and boobies nest on the ground on the hill. The birds have no natural predators on the island and show little fear of humans, though they will cackle up a storm if they think you're about to step on them. Iguanas are plentiful on the island.

Waters around the island provide habitat for a rich diversity of marine mammals, fish, and other sea creatures. Expect to see shark whales, eagle mantas, sea turtles, lobsters, crabs, blowfish, trumpet fish, sharks, eels and more. At night, the waters glow with bioluminescent phytoplankton.

Climate

Get in

You can take a boat to Isla Isabel either from San Blas or from Boca de Camichín, both in the state of Nayarit. Camichín is well off the beaten track and may be difficult to reach without a car, but it's a short 90-minute boat ride from the island whereas the distance from San Blas by boat is over 70 km and the ride takes closer to 3 hours, but San Blas is much larger and it is a well-developed tourist town with hotels, restaurants, stores, and a bus station with frequent service to Tepic and Puerto Vallarta.

Only licensed tour operators with permits from CONANP are allowed to take passengers to the island, and the government enforces strict limits on the number of daily and overnight visitors.

Fees and permits

Contact your tour operator.

Get around

Boat, swim, or walk.

See

Do

Scuba diving is popular around the island. Dive shops in San Blas or Puerto Vallarta can provide information about dive tours to the island, which may include overnight camping on Isla Isabel.

Snorkel from boats or in shallow waters close to the island

Observe nature on the island, or from the boat; whale or dolphin sightings are possible (but not usually likely)

Buy

Nothing to buy here.

Eat

Tour operators will provide meals.

Drink

Bring bottled water, though the tour operator will supply you with everything you need. Note that alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the island as are disposable drink containers.

Sleep

Lodging

Hotels are in the town of San Blas.

Camping

Overnight tours require camping on the island. Up to 30 visitors are permitted to camp on the island each night. Usually, that means you'll set up a tent inside an open-sided shelter and then roll out your sleeping bag on the concrete floor. There are no modern facilities on the island and visitors use a pit toilet. Leave No Trace practices are enforced by the tour guides.

Stay safe

Be aware that the island is in a remote location accessed by small boats. If you are subject to motion sickness or uncomfortable with primitive conditions, you would be happier staying in San Blas where there are comfortable hotels and restaurants.

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