Isla Isabel

Isla Isabel is a small volcanic island in the Pacific, about two kilometers long, that has been a national park since 1980. It has no permanent residents, and that is the point: tens of thousands of seabirds nest here, and because they have little reason to fear people, you can watch them at very close range. It is often called the Mexican Galápagos.

The stars are the frigatebirds, whose males puff up a bright red throat pouch in the breeding season, and the blue-footed and brown boobies that nest right on the ground beside the trails. Iguanas sun themselves on the rocks, and a small crater lake sits in the middle of the island. The waters around it are clear, with reef fish, rays and sea turtles, and in winter humpback whales are often seen on the crossing.

Visits are tightly limited to protect the colonies. Only tour operators with permits from CONANP, the national parks agency, can bring people here, and only a small number of visitors may stay on the island at once, either for the day or camping overnight under simple shelters.