Puerto Villamil is a small port village, the center of the canton of Isabela in the province of Galapagos. The name is given in honor of José de Villamil, one of the fighters for the independence of Ecuador. The population is about 2000 people. Puerto Villamil is the third largest settlement on the Galapagos Islands and the only settlement on the island of Isabela . Puerto Villamil Harbor is a popular stopping point for private yachts following the Marquesas Islands.
History
Ecuador annexed the Galapagossa in 1832. Over the next hundred years, the islands were used as an exile convict prison. The first permanent residents of the settlement of Puerto Villamil were the military, convicted of an unsuccessful coup attempt in Ecuador . Work on sugar and coffee plantations was unbearable, often there were insurgencies among prisoners. After World War II, a colony for criminals was built 5 km from the village and they were forced to erect a stone wall, which nobody called the "Wall of Tears", to nobody. During its construction, several thousand people died. In 1958, desperate prisoners raised an uprising and killed all the guards. The colony was closed.
What to see in Puerto Villamil?
While in Puerto Villamil, be sure to visit the local Catholic church. An unusual building of white stone is always open to visitors. Inside the church is decorated with stained glass windows, along with religious figures depicting turtles, birds and sea iguanas. Like on any other island in the archipelago, famous representatives of the local fauna are everywhere: on signs, walls of houses and, of course, on the streets. In the vicinity of the city there are three interesting places: the Wall of Tears, the nursery of turtles (the population totals about 330 individuals) and the lake with beautiful pink flamingos. Around the village there are many hiking trails, along which you can walk or ride a bike, admire the marsh landscapes and lava tunnels.
We recommend a walk to the volcano of Sierra Negra , the crater of which is one of the largest in the world - 10 km in diameter. Water walks to the island of Las Tintoreras are popular, a unique nature reserve with penguins and iguanas. The island is cut by canals, where you can see a hammerhead shark.
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This village is not a resort place, it practically does not have souvenir shops and restaurants. For those who are planning to spend several days in Puerto Vallamil, to see the sights and enjoy the beach, there are several small hotels, for example, La Casa de Marita Boutique 3 *, Hotel Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge 3 *. Going to the island you need to take cash, as there are no ATMs, and cards are almost never accepted.
How to get there?
You can get to Puerto Villamil in two ways: by boat or by plane from the local airline Emetebe. Boat flights from Puerto Ayora to Puerto Villamil are carried out daily, the cost of such a trip is about $ 30, duration is 2 hours. Another option is to use the services of the local airline Emetebe. such a trip will cost about $ 260 (both ways). Puerto Villamil Airport is located a few kilometers from the village.
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