Puerto Villamil - Health

Description:

Puerto Villamil can best be described as the “jewel of the Galapagos harbors”. The harbor is protected by a southern string of low islands and reefs and therefore is a more protected, calm anchorage.

A large island with only 1800 inhabitants, Isabela is connected to the island group by daily “fast” ferries to Santa Cruz.

Entrance Notes and Cautions:

The harbor is protected by a southern string of low islands and reefs. While there is a small boat entry through these islands, sailboats will need to round to the south and west of the group and enter through a buoyed channel. Entry is not easy as it is encumbered with reefs, so make sure you arrive with good light and keep a good lookout for reefs in the approaches to the anchorage.

Cruisers report the charted port and starboard buoys are in place but the yellow buoy near the entrance is not in place.  Also deeper water than charted.  If taking your dinghy to drop people at the pier, DO NOT cross the anchorage as it is full of rocks.  Instead, go right around the outside as shown in this pic from SV Hawkeye.

See SV Hawkeye's report for some more useful information:

• Galapagos:  Enchanting Islands and Intriguing Sea Lions

Cruiser Highlights:

There is snorkeling off your boat with the highlight being the colony of Penguins that live here and visit your boat to feed, as well as hiking or biking to a tortoise preserve outside town, and to the “Wall of Tears”, about 9.6 kms (six miles) out along the “beach road”. Most of the tour sites on Isabela, however, are spread farther apart than on San Cristobal and Santa Cruz and are only accessible by boat.

Position:  

00° 57.93'S, 90° 57.65'W (anchorage)

Last updated:  February 2024