Puerto Villamil facts for kids
Puerto Villamil is a small port village. It is located on the southeastern edge of Isabela Island in the amazing Galapagos Islands. Most of the 2,200 people who live on Isabela Island call Puerto Villamil home.
The harbor is often full of sailboats. This is because Villamil is a popular stop for private yachts. They are often traveling to the Marquesas Islands. Puerto Villamil is the westernmost town in the Galapagos Islands. Antonio Gil founded the town in 1897.
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Life in Puerto Villamil
For many years, people in Puerto Villamil made their living by farming or fishing. Over time, the government has encouraged people to shift away from fishing. Instead, they want people to work in tourism.
This change has led to some disagreements. For example, in 2000, some sea cucumber fishermen protested. They wanted the government to allow them to fish more. As part of their protest, they took some baby tortoises. This event showed how important fishing limits were to the community.
Exploring Puerto Villamil
There are many interesting places to visit in Puerto Villamil. You can learn about the island's history and see its unique wildlife.
Church and Market
The modern church in the middle of town is called Iglesia Cristo Salvador. It is worth seeing because of its colorful wall paintings. These paintings show many typical animals and landscapes from the island. The local market is also nearby. It has a large relief on its wall showing different birds of the island.
Wildlife and Nature Walks
On the southwestern edge of town, there is a special boardwalk. The park created it with help from US Aid. This walkway goes through mangrove forests. It passes along saltwater lagoons. These lagoons are full of amazing birds. You can see flamingos, black-winged stilts, Hudsonian whimbrels, Bahama pintails, and common gallinules. These birds come here to search for brine shrimp in the mud.
At the end of the walkway, you will find the Tortoise Breeding Center. It is called Centro de Crianza de Tortugas Terrestres. This center was built to help protect the many types of Isabela Tortoises. There is also a lake called Poza de los Flamingos in the western part of town. Here, you can often see flamingos.
Islets and Sharks
To the southeast of town, there are several small islets. One of these is known as Las Tintoreras. Here, you can often see a group of white tip sharks. They like to rest in a lava channel.
Historical Sites
You can visit the ruins of an old prison colony. It was closed in 1959. This site is in the west of the town. The prisoners were forced to build a large wall. It is called El Muro de las Lágrimas. This wall is made of black lava stones and is up to 20 meters tall. It is still well-preserved today.
