Isla Isabel, Nayarit, is an offshore National Park facing the coast of Santiago Ixcuintla, about 70 km from San Blas: a 194-hectare volcanic island where thousands of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds nest on the ground and in the shrubs, just a few meters from the trails. The birds don’t see humans as predators, which is why many people call it “the Mexican Galápagos.”
Getting there takes planning: the only way in is by boat, there are no hotels or shops, and visits are regulated by CONANP, Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas. This practical guide covers the wildlife you’ll see, how to get there from San Blas or Boca de Camichín, how long the crossing takes, which permits you need, the best season, park rules and what to pack. For a more narrative take on the island experience, read the Isla Isabel route.
Isla Isabel Nayarit at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | National Park (decreed December 8, 1980), managed by CONANP |
| Area | 194.17 ha |
| Municipality | Off the coast of Santiago Ixcuintla |
| Highest point | About 140 m above sea level |
| Origin | Volcanic, with a small lake inside an old crater |
| Designations | Ramsar Site no. 1324 (2003) and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California” |
| Distance | Approx. 70 km from San Blas and about 42 km from Boca de Camichín |
| Services | None for visitors: no hotel, shop or drinking water |
Wildlife: blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and more
According to CONABIO, Mexico’s biodiversity commission, the park is home to more than 220 species of plants and animals, 20 of them listed as at risk under Mexican standard NOM-059. What makes it unique is the sheer density of nesting seabirds in such a small space.
Blue-footed booby
The island’s emblem. It nests right on the ground in dense colonies; males show off their blue feet in a courtship dance, and the female usually lays two eggs, which the pair incubate in turns for about 41 to 45 days. Researchers from UNAM, Mexico’s national university, have studied this colony for decades, and much of what science knows about the species comes from here.
Magnificent frigatebird
It nests on top of the low dry-forest shrubs. In courtship season males inflate a red throat pouch like a balloon, dotting the island with scarlet. It is one of the most photographed scenes on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Other species
- Seabirds: brown booby, red-footed booby, brown pelican, red-billed tropicbird, Heermann’s gull and terns.
- Reptiles: black spiny-tailed iguana, green iguana and several lizards, easy to spot on the rocks.
- In the water: rocky-reef fish, turtles and rays for snorkelers and divers, plus humpback whales in winter (December–March) during the crossing.
History and conservation of Isla Isabel
For centuries the island was just a temporary shelter for fishermen. Its scientific fame came in 1976, when Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s team filmed and documented its wildlife and proposed protecting it. Mexican biologists backed the proposal with a field survey, and on December 8, 1980, the National Park was decreed. Since then, UNAM (Mexico’s National Autonomous University) has run a seabird breeding research program on the island.
- Cats and sooty terns: the island once held Mexico’s largest sooty tern colony, which introduced cats decimated. According to the site’s Ramsar record, they were eradicated in 1995.
- The sea is protected too: in January 2024, SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environment ministry) added the Isla Isabel Marine Zone National Park, about 31,695 hectares (78,300 acres), extending protection to the waters around the island where the birds feed and turtles and manta rays live.
- Why so many rules: the island has no permanent population; only authorized fishermen, researchers and small groups of visitors land there. That limited access is what lets the birds keep nesting fearlessly a few steps from the trails.
How to get to Isla Isabel
The island is reachable only by sea, on a boat run by an authorized tour operator. The two usual departure points are San Blas, the port with the most tours, and Boca de Camichín in Santiago Ixcuintla, which is closer to the island. To reach those ports, see our guides to San Blas and Santiago Ixcuintla.
| Departure point | Distance to the island | Boat time (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Blas (pier) | approx. 70 km | 2 h 30 min – 3 h | Travelers staying in San Blas or coming from Tepic; most operators |
| Boca de Camichín (Santiago Ixcuintla) | approx. 42 km | 1 h 30 min – 2 h | Travelers combining the trip with Mexcaltitán and the north coast |
Times depend on sea conditions and the type of boat; in rough seas the crossing takes longer and may be canceled. Boats leave early, between dawn and mid-morning, when the sea is usually calmer. If you go via Boca de Camichín, pair the trip with Mexcaltitán, the island town in the estuary.
CONANP permits and types of visit
As a National Park, all tourism on the island is regulated by CONANP and its management rules. The practical route is to book an operator with a current authorization to provide services in the park: they handle the permit, the protected-area access fee and the boat logistics. Before you pay, ask:
- Whether they are authorized by CONANP to operate on Isla Isabel and whether the access fee is included.
- How many hours you will spend on the island and how many at sea.
- Whether the boat carries life jackets for everyone, a radio and a well-maintained engine.
- What happens if the sea is too rough: rescheduling or refund.
There are two usual formats: a day trip, leaving before dawn and returning in the afternoon, and an overnight visit, camping in the authorized area and always with a guide. There are no hotels: only a seasonal fishing camp and a research station, neither of which is for visitors. The park’s official fact sheet is on CONANP’s SIMEC.
Best season to visit
| Months | Sea | Wildlife | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| December – January | Generally stable | Courtship begins; whales on the crossing | Good; shorter days |
| February – May | Calmest | Nesting boobies and frigatebirds with chicks | Best time |
| June – November | Variable; Pacific hurricane season (May 15 – November 30) | Less visible nesting activity | Only with a good forecast; more cancellations |
Nesting varies from year to year with ocean conditions, so ask your operator how the season is going before you book. For coastal weather, see Nayarit weather month by month.
Park rules
- Stay on marked trails and follow your guide.
- Keep your distance from nests: don’t touch or feed wildlife and never pick up chicks.
- Take nothing: no rocks, feathers, shells or eggs.
- Don’t bring pets, plants or fresh food that could leave seeds behind.
- Leave no trash: everything you bring in leaves with you.
- No fires outside the areas and conditions your guide indicates.
- If you want to fly a drone, ask first: protected areas usually require authorization, and drones stress the birds.
What to pack
- Plenty of drinking water (at least 3 liters per person per day) and non-perishable food.
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, biodegradable sunscreen and a long-sleeved shirt; there is almost no shade.
- Closed-toe shoes with good soles for volcanic rock, plus sandals for the wet landing.
- Seasickness pills, taken before boarding.
- A dry bag for camera and phone; binoculars and a zoom lens.
- Insect repellent and a light jacket for the ride back or the night.
- If camping: tent, headlamp and bags to pack out your trash.
- Cash for tips and expenses at the port.
Things to do on Isla Isabel
- Birdwatching: dozens of species in a single day.
- Guided hikes through nesting colonies and up to the lookouts.
- Snorkeling and diving with an operator, around the island and the Las Monas rocks.
- Nature photography: one of the best spots on the Pacific.
- Whales during the crossing in season (December–March); read our whale-watching guide.
Isla Isabel is an experience from another dimension. It isn’t for every traveler, since it takes logistics, early starts and a tolerance for the open sea, but those who make it there understand why many consider it Nayarit’s most valuable natural gem. For easier nature escapes, check out the best beaches in Nayarit.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Isla Isabel from San Blas?
By boat with an authorized operator, leaving from the San Blas pier. It is about 70 km and the crossing takes approx. 2 h 30 min to 3 h depending on the sea.
Do you need a permit to visit Isla Isabel?
Yes. It is a National Park and visits are regulated by CONANP. The easiest option is to go with an authorized operator who handles the permit and the access fee.
When is the best time to visit Isla Isabel?
February to May, when the sea is usually calmer and boobies and frigatebirds have nests and chicks. From December to March you may also see whales on the way.
Can you stay overnight on Isla Isabel?
There are no hotels. Camping is allowed only in the authorized area, with a guide and a permit, and you must bring everything: water, food and gear.
Why is it called the Mexican Galápagos?
Because the birds nest a few meters from the trails and don’t flee from people, as on Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, and because of its abundance of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds.
Which municipality does Isla Isabel belong to?
It lies off the coast of Santiago Ixcuintla, Nayarit. The most common departures are from San Blas and Boca de Camichín.
Since when has Isla Isabel been protected?
It has been a National Park since December 8, 1980, following a proposal by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who documented it in 1976. In 2024 protection was extended to its marine zone, about 31,695 hectares.
Area map
- 1Isla Isabel (National Park) 194-ha volcanic island; booby and frigatebird colonies.21.8472, -105.8836 · Open in Google Maps
- 2San Blas pier Main tour departure; approx. 2.5–3 h by boat.21.5408, -105.2914 · Open in Google Maps
- 3Boca de Camichín Closest departure (approx. 42 km); 1.5–2 h by boat.21.745, -105.4896 · Open in Google Maps
