Get to Know Isla Isabel

Isla Isabel is a nature sanctuary in Nayarit located in the municipality of Santiago Ixcuintla about 70 kilometers off the coast of San Blas in the Riviera Nayarit. It’s a Biosphere Reserve as well as a National Park with mountains and cliffs that offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.

For travelers that value close contact with nature, Isla Isabel is a paradise with spectacular underwater landscapes and a fantastic diversity of marine species and birds extending across some two thousand square kilometers.

This is home to the Blue-Footed Booby and the Yellow-Footed Brown Booty, although occasionally a Red-Footed Booby can also be sighted. The most numerous, however, are the common frigate birds (Fragata magnificens). Many bird species depend on the island as their only nesting ground, which is why this place has become a refuge for these endemic species.

The underwater life just as amazing: manta rays, humpback whales, the unique whale shark, and beautiful coral can be found here, as well as 79 species of fish—all awaiting recreational and professional divers. And there aren’t very many coral reefs in this part of the world, so this island a priceless treasure.

National Park and Protected Area
Isla Isabel was declared a National Park in 1980, a Protected Natural Area in the year 2000, and a Ramsar Site (a wetland of international importance) in 2003. The first man ever recorded to have set foot on the island was French sea captain Abel Aubert Dupetit Thouars (August 3, 1793 – March 16, 1864) back in 1863. The story of his visit can be found in his memoir titled Voyage Around the World Aboard the Frigate Venus.

Among the top activities to be enjoyed are whale and dolphin watching, swimming with the whale sharks, hiking, birdwatching, sport fishing, snorkeling, star gazing, camping, and more.

You can visit our Biodiversity in Vallarta and its surrounding areas page for more info!

Source: Vallarta Daily

Last Updated on 17/11/2020 by Puerto Vallarta Net