A snorkeler floats through calm turquoise water surrounded by mangroves at Concha de Perla. Concha de Perla was one of my favorite free and easy snorkeling spots in Isabela Galapagos.
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One of my favorite Bucket List Galapagos snorkeling experiences didn’t require a tour, a boat ride, or a guide. Or MONEY!

If you’re looking for an easy, flexible, and free snorkeling experience on Isabela Island, Concha de Perla should be high on your list.

Bill and I spent two weeks on Isabela as part of our 30 days island hopping through the Galapagos, and Concha de Perla ended up being my favorite activity on the island. I went snorkeling there four different times, and every visit felt a little different.

What I loved most was the freedom. No guide telling me where to swim. No group participants kicking me in the face with their fins. No schedule. I could float, follow fish, linger near the rocks, and stay in the water until I got too cold.

If you’re planning a trip to Isabela, this guide will help you find Concha de Perla, know what to bring, rent snorkel gear if needed, and make the most of one of the best free snorkeling spots in the Galapagos.

Quick Answer: Is Concha de Perla Worth It?

Yes — absolutely.

If you only do one free thing on Isabela Island, I’d make it Concha de Perla.

Why go:

  • It’s free
  • No boat ride required
  • You can walk there from Puerto Villamil
  • Entry is easy with stairs into the water
  • You can snorkel at your own pace
  • You may see sea lions, turtles, rays, sharks, puffer fish, colorful fish, marine iguanas, and sometimes penguins

This is not a sandy beach. It’s a sheltered snorkeling area reached by a short boardwalk through the mangroves, with stairs leading directly into the water.

A narrow wooden boardwalk passes through a tunnel of tangled mangrove branches toward the snorkeling lagoon.

What Is Concha de Perla?

Concha de Perla is a free DIY snorkeling spot near the ferry and tour pier in Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island.

It’s a large protected area where you can swim and snorkel on your own without booking a tour. The water entry is much easier than many shore snorkeling spots because you use a set of stairs instead of walking over rocks or fighting waves.

Once you’re in the water, you can explore freely.

That was the magic for me.

On guided snorkeling tours, I sometimes felt rushed or crowded. At Concha de Perla, I could stay in one place watching fish or the turtles for as long as I wanted.

A snorkeler floats through calm turquoise water surrounded by mangroves at Concha de Perla. Concha de Perla was one of my favorite free and easy snorkeling spots in Isabela Galapagos.

What the Snorkeling Is Like

Concha de Perla is exactly the kind of snorkeling experience I love. You get in, choose your own direction, and explore.

Across my visits, I saw:

  • Sea lions
  • Sea turtles
  • A manta ray
  • A shark
  • Puffer fish
  • Colorful fish
  • Marine iguanas nearby
  • Lots of wildlife around the pier area

I had the best luck when I headed right from the bottom of the stairs into the water. I’d swim along the outside of the entire area all the way around to the stairs again in a counter-clockwise path. I definitely found more fish along the edges than in the deep middle.

Every visit felt different, which is why I kept going back.

Because Concha de Perla is part of the protected Galapagos UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is especially important to give wildlife space and avoid touching or chasing marine life. Here is one of the little fish videos I captured with the GoPro.

A small black and yellow fish swims over the rocky bottom of the lagoon at Concha de Perla. Using a GoPro is one way to capture the memories of this underwater world of the Galapagos.
Click to watch my GoPro video of the fish swimming in Concha de Perla.

Best Time to Go to Concha de Perla

My best tip is to go in the morning when many people are out on paid tours.

That’s when it tended to feel quieter and less crowded.

I also went around noon on a sunny Saturday, and it was definitely busier with more swimmers and snorkelers. It was still worth it, but I preferred the quieter visits.

I loved being able to snorkel for an hour, get out and rest, then go back in again later.

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How to Find the Trail to Concha de Perla

Bill and I took the wrong trail the first time and had to ask someone where to go.

As you walk from Puerto Villamil toward the ferry pier and tour pier, the boardwalk trail to Concha de Perla is on the left as you approach the tour pier area.

From there, you’ll walk a short boardwalk through the mangroves until you reach the stairs into the water. You might have to step over some sea lions along the way.

The walk from town was about a mile, depending on where you start.

A red arrow points toward the sign and entrance for the Concha de Perla boardwalk near the tour pier on Isabela Island. Finding this trailhead is the trickiest part the first time.

What to Bring to Concha de Perla

Keep it simple. You’ll be swimming on your own, and no one is watching your belongings while you’re in the water.

Bring:

  • Swimsuit
  • Mask and snorkel
  • Fins if you want them
  • Wetsuit if you get cold easily
  • Towel
  • Cover-up or dry clothes
  • Water bottle
  • Reef-safe sunscreen
  • Comfortable shoes for the walk
  • Only the cash you need

I would not bring valuables unless someone in your group is staying out of the water to watch them.

Kari’s Travel Tip: Wear real shoes or sandals you’re comfortable walking in. From town, it can be about a mile each way, and doing that in flimsy flip-flops while carrying gear may get old fast.

Snorkel gear, shoes, towels, and backpacks hang from wooden posts and benches beside the mangroves. This shows why it’s smart to pack light and avoid bringing valuables when snorkeling independently.
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Where to Rent Snorkel Gear In Puerto Villamil

If you brought your own mask and snorkel, great. That’s what we did. But you can also rent gear in Puerto Villamil.

We rented fins and wetsuits from Luis at Isabela Tour Company on the corner of Antonio Gil and Escalecias.

The Isabela Tour Center offers tours to several places on Isabela Island as well as snorkeling equipment and bikes for rent.

We paid:

  • $5 for a wetsuit rental
  • $3 for fins

Prices can always change, but gear rental was inexpensive and easy when we visited.

You can usually rent:

  • Mask and Snorkel
  • Fins
  • Wetsuit
  • GoPro

Kari’s Travel Tip: Plenty of people snorkeled with just a mask and snorkel, no fins or wetsuit. I preferred having fins, and I liked having a wetsuit because I got cold in the water after a while.

I also rented a GoPro from Pahoehoe Adventures one day for $30 so I could try to capture video underwater. As far as I know, they are the only shop in town who rents GoPros.

Helpful Facilities Nearby

There are a few useful things near the start of the trail.

Near the trail entrance, you’ll find:

  • A small restaurant selling light meals
  • A public restroom across the road
  • The ferry and tour pier area nearby

Kari’s Travel Tip: At the public restroom, the toilet paper is on the wall outside the stall. Grab it before you go in.

A free bathroom is available near the Ferry Pier and Concha de Perla. It is a white round building with a green roof and turtles and sharks painted on the walls.

Who Will Love Concha de Perla?

Concha de Perla is a great fit if you want:

  • Free Galapagos snorkeling
  • A flexible DIY activity
  • Easy water entry
  • No boat ride
  • No guide
  • No set schedule
  • A break from paid excursions
  • A place you can revisit more than once

It’s especially nice if you’re already doing a paid tour like Los Túneles or Las Tintoreras and want another snorkeling experience without spending more money.

It’s also a good option if you’re tired of group snorkeling and just want to float around on your own.

A snorkeler floats near the edge of the lagoon’s rocky edge with mangroves surrounding it.

Who Might Not Love It?

Concha de Perla may not be the best fit if you:

  • Want a guided experience
  • Need someone watching the water conditions for you
  • Prefer sandy beaches
  • Don’t want to walk from town
  • Feel uncomfortable snorkeling independently

This is still a natural snorkeling area, so you need to be comfortable paying attention to your surroundings.

FAQs About Concha de Perla

Is Concha de Perla free?

Yes, Concha de Perla is free. You only need to pay for gear rental if you did not bring your own snorkel equipment.

Do you need a guide for Concha de Perla?

No. Concha de Perla is a DIY snorkeling spot, so you can go on your own and stay as long as you want.

Is Concha de Perla good for beginners?

It can be, especially because there are stairs into the water and no boat ride required. But you’ll still be snorkeling independently, so only go as far as you feel comfortable.

Two sea lions sleep on the wooden deck railing. Sharing the boardwalk with sea lions is one of the memorable little surprises that makes this free Isabela snorkeling spot feel so special.

Final Thoughts: Is Concha de Perla Worth Visiting?

Concha de Perla was one of my favorite experiences on Isabela Island because it gave me exactly what I wanted: easy, flexible, free Galapagos snorkeling without a schedule.

I loved being able to swim where I wanted, stop when I wanted, and go back more than once.

Paid tours in the Galapagos can be incredible, and I’d still recommend doing some of them. But Concha de Perla proves you do not need an expensive excursion every single day to have a memorable wildlife experience.

If you’re visiting Isabela Island, bring or rent snorkel gear and make time for it. I’d go more than once if you can.

If you’re comparing free snorkeling with paid Isabela tours, my Los Túneles tour review and Las Tintoreras tour review can help you decide where to spend your tour budget.

More Galapagos Travel Guides

Here are some more posts about visiting the Galapagos Islands. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.

Overall Galapagos Planning Guides

Isabela Island Galapagos Guides

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