If you dream of a trip to the Galapagos, but your budget isn’t quite there, look no further than Isla de la Plata. The nature, wildlife, and wonderful people on our tour made this trip a highlight of our time in Ecuador. Isla de la Plata is an island off the coast of Puerto Lopez, Ecuador and is a part of Machalilla National Park. The island is uninhabited by humans but is home to many species of wildlife. Most popular being the blue-footed boobies.
Getting There
The island can only be reached by boat and only through a tour company. There are several tour companies in Puerto Lopez that are licensed to guide tours to the island. We went with the company Aventuras la Plata and cannot say enough good things about their tour. We paid $45 per person at the time we went which includes the full day tour, whale watching (only June – September), a Spanish and English-speaking guide, snorkeling, a guided hike, and lunch on the boat. It’s important to go with a good tour company that knows the ins and outs of the business. It could be the difference between an unforgettable trip and a miserably long day. Keep reading and I will touch on all the little things that Aventuras la Plata did that made our tour the best of the day.
The tour started at 9AM in front of the Aventuras la Plata office which is conveniently located right next door to Aloha. Grab some breakfast at Aloha before joining the tour to really start your day on the right foot. Once the group has gathered, everyone walks down to the pier together where you board the boat that will take you 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) away to the island. I was surprised at the size of the boats. I had imagined a much larger vessel taking us out. Our boat perfectly fit the 15 or so people on our tour plus the crew. We were immediately asked to take our shoes off. This seemed like a silly request, but we soon learned that the island has no dock. The boats get as close to shore as possible and then everyone hops off and into the water. This is also important to consider if you have any mobility issues. However, don’t let this hold you back. We had an awesome lady in her 70’s in our group, and she had no problems transferring off the boat.
Holy Humpbacks
The boat ride is beautiful and so fun. This was my first time in a boat on the ocean, and the waves made it so much fun to me. I felt like I was on a ride at the fair. Unfortunately, so did Jacob. Jacob gets terrible motion sickness, so he was struggling to hold in his breakfast for the last half of the ride. When the boat was cruising, everyone felt pretty good. As we neared Isla de la Plata, the most magical thing happened. We saw a humpback whale leap out of the water and splash down hard on his back. The boat buzzed with excitement as everyone scurried to ready their cameras. Once the captain of the boat could tell we were around the humpback whales, he slowed the boat down and stopped. Our group was so lucky. Between photo and video I caught at least 15 whales on camera, and I know there were some that I missed. Words can’t describe the majestic beauty of these enormous mammals leaping out of the water. Please believe me when I say that the photos do not do these beautiful creatures justice, but they are still incredible captured on camera. Our guide knew the patterns of the whales so well that he could literally count down from one jump to the next. I was blown away by his knowledge and accuracy. We were the first tour group to the whales and because of this we got to have them all to ourselves. When the other boats started gathering around, we headed off to the island.
Off on Foot
Our guide informed us that only 1 tour group is allowed to start the hike at a time. He always pushes his tours to be the first boat to the island, so the hike can start right away. Otherwise, you have to wait 20 minutes between groups. As proven with the whales, its best to be the first group to see the wildlife that day. You can see them in the most natural environment possible. We were indeed the first boat to the island. There are no services on Isla de la Plata except for a restroom. Thank goodness there was a bathroom. This was a genuine concern of mine before we arrived at the island. Our guide gave us a few minutes to gather our things and use the restroom before we headed out on foot to explore.
The first portion of the hike is the most strenuous. You must climb the stairs up to the top of the island before you can choose between 1 of 3 different hikes. Our group split in two. One section chose the shortest hike, and another section chose the medium length hike. Jacob and I were in the medium hike group. The entire group elected not to do the longest hike because we wouldn’t have any time for snorkeling at the end if we chose the longest hike.
Blue-Footed Boobies
If your primary goal is to see the blue-footed boobies on Isla de la Plata, you will not be disappointed. Almost immediately after starting our hike, we came upon a booby who had nested right in the middle of the trail. Everyone wanted to stop and take pictures. We had no idea why our guide would want us to keep moving when we could see this bird up close, but he was right. For the next couple of hours, we came up to dozens and dozens of blue footed boobies of all ages and sizes. We saw them flying, eating, nesting, preening, you name it. The coolest thing, in my opinion, was watching their silly mating dance where the male prances around lifting his feet for the female.
I have a vivid memory of learning about the blue-footed boobies in science class but seeing them in person was even more incredible. Our guide educated us on many other facts about the blue-footed boobies. The birds can spend two weeks doing their dance before a female chooses them to mate with. We also learned the different calls between the males and the females, the gestation period, how to determine the age of a bird based on its plumage and so much more. What better way to learn than while looking right at the birds and navigating carefully around their nests? I have always loved to learn, but this hands on, real-life, style of learning takes it to another level. One of the coolest things to me was how unafraid the wildlife was of us. They are protected by the national park and are totally unbothered by humans walking around them.
Views and other Wildlife
We also saw Fragatas, snakes, other species of birds whose names escape me. Our guide even stopped and took individual pictures of each family with the boobies. The hike was done at a very leisurely pace giving you plenty of time to soak in your surroundings. There were also sweeping viewpoints where you can see for miles out into the ocean. We were deciding whether or not to wear our hiking boots for this trip. Jacob settled on his Asics, and I chose to where my Teva sandals. Both of our shoes held up very well for this easy hike. I am actually glad I didn’t have my large, heavy boots with me. However, you should wear shoes that will be comfortable for walking several hours in.
Unexpected Lunch Guests
After we had taken in our fill of the island, we headed to the boat. Back on board, we were served lunch. I had read reviews to bring snacks because lunch isn’t always tasty or filling on these types of tours. Our experience with Aventuras la Plata was the total opposite. We were served chicken salad sandwiches, watermelon, bananas, and juice. There were plenty of extras after everyone had one helping and the crew came back around offering seconds. That said, if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, I recommend bringing your own food. While we were eating our sandwiches, we got the cutest surprise. A group of sea turtles decided to join us and swam up right next to the boat. I couldn’t believe how big they were! Or how cute they were swimming right at the surface of the water, putting on a show for us while we enjoyed our lunch.
Snorkeling
Once lunch was over, it was off in the boat to the other side of the island where we could snorkel. After seeing the sea turtles from on top of the water, I could not wait to jump in. We split into 2 groups again, strong swimmers and those not as comfortable in the water. Jacob and I went with the strong swimmers and I am so glad we did. The moment our heads went under the water, we could hear the hauntingly beautiful sound of the humpback whales in the distance. The whales were too far away to see under the water, but hearing their song is something I will remember forever. We were the only group to see turtles and a manta ray while snorkeling. The turtles were a bit far away and the ray blended in too well to get a good picture, but it was amazing. As we swam around looking for more manta rays, our guide took us over a huge coral reef where we saw so many different varieties of fish and sea creatures. Snorkeling for me was one of those rare moments in adulthood where the entire rest of the world melts away and you feel like a kid again. It took me back to my childhood where I spent day after day at the public pool pretending to be a mermaid. The snorkeling experience lasted around an hour and then it was back to the boat where we were served cookies before taking off back to Puerto Lopez. Snorkeling confirmed two things for me. First, I am definitely getting my scuba diving certification. Second, my under water photography skills need some refining.
Back on the boat, we took off at full speed for Puerto Lopez. Wow it was cold being soaking wet and speeding over the ocean. I loved every minute of it though. The ride home was much quieter than the ride to Isla de la Plata. Everyone was exhausted from a long, exciting day and half of the boat started feeling seasick at some point on the ride home. Thankfully, we made it back to the dock without anyone being sick. We were free to go our separate ways once back to shore with the memories and excitement of a day filled with nature, wildlife, and lots of laughs. We were one of the first boats off the dock that day and we were the last Isla de la Plata tour to return in the evening. Aventuras la Plata ensured we had a full day of fun and adventure. Isla de la Plata is a must do day trip if you are in Puerto Lopez. We are so happy we dedicated the time and resources to this experience. We made countless memories that will last a lifetime. At the end of the day, isn’t that what it is all about? Our tour was on July 4th, and the cherry on top of this perfect day was seeing a few fireworks off the beach in Puerto Lopez. Just goes to show that if you look around, you are never too far from home. Even when you are in another hemisphere.
Sounds like great fun and I never heard of the blue footed birds. A cousin sent me some pictures of a bright red breasted Robin an Australian bird, very rare. I am glad you are having a great fun experience but I miss you guys and excited to see you back home safe and sound. I am glad you are taking the time to keep this journal so we can share your experiences.
Love you both. Grandma Farmer
Really interesting post!