Isla Isabel National Park

Isla Isabel National Park is a small, uninhabited volcanic island roughly 30 kilometers off the coast of San Blas, Nayarit, protected since 1980 as one of Mexico's most significant seabird sanctuaries and often described by researchers as a miniature Galápagos for its dense nesting colonies. The island supports one of the largest breeding populations of magnificent frigatebirds in the eastern Pacific, alongside blue-footed and brown boobies that nest at ground level along the trails crossing the island's interior, allowing close, unobstructed views without disturbing the birds. Two crater lakes sit within the island's volcanic core, and the surrounding waters are known for good snorkeling and diving around volcanic rock formations and reef, with sightings of manta rays and reef sharks. Because the crossing from San Blas takes two and a half to three hours each way by chartered panga, a visit is necessarily a full-day undertaking, typically eight to ten hours round trip including several hours exploring the island's trails and coastline. The crossing itself can be rough, so trips are generally best attempted in calmer morning conditions and are frequently cancelled or postponed during the rainy and hurricane season from June through November.