Floating 25 miles off Ecuador's coast inside Machalilla National Park, Isla de la Plata is where blue-footed boobies nest inches from your feet and humpback whales breach beside the tender on the way in. Same wildlife magic as the Galápagos — one fraction of the distance.
There is no pier on Isla de la Plata — all access is by tender or Zodiac, ending in a wet landing at Bahía Drake.
💡 Pro move: The entire island is a strict nature reserve. You must stay with a certified naturalist guide at all times. No free wandering.
Isla de la Plata has no pier — all ships anchor offshore and land passengers by Zodiac or tender at Bahía Drake.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Expedition lines (Silversea, Lindblad, Hurtigruten, Seabourn) | Anchor off Bahía Drake📍 | Tendered |
| Larger cruise ships via Puerto López excursion | Speedboat from Puerto López dock📍 | Tendered |
All visits are guided — the national park requires a certified naturalist, so every excursion is essentially a guided nature walk with optional snorkeling.
Walk the signature loop where boobies nest right at your feet. All three booby species (blue-footed, Nazca, red-footed) plus frigatebirds and, seasonally, waved albatrosses are seen on the island trails.
Find guided wildlife tours →June through September, humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to calve in Ecuador's warm coastal waters. The boat crossing to and from the island almost guarantees sightings — breaching and tail-slapping right alongside.
Find whale watching excursions →The waters around Bahía Drake and reef sites like Palo Santo Reef host resident green sea turtles year-round. August and September bring aggregations of giant manta rays (wingspans to 22 ft) — one of the world's best manta encounters.
Find snorkeling tours →The classic day excursion from Puerto López: speedboat crossing, guided booby trail, snorkeling stop, whale watching en route, and a box lunch on the boat. Covers the island's highlights in one go.
Find full-day island tours →All walking on the island is via guided trail loops — no independent wandering is permitted inside the national park.
The shorter trail circuit from Bahía Drake up the steep staircase to the clifftop plateau. Prime blue-footed booby nesting ground — birds sit directly on and beside the path.
📍 Open in MapsThe longer trail circuit (the island's most-walked route), extending across the plateau to frigatebird colonies and panoramic clifftop ocean views. Best chance for waved albatrosses (May–December). Rocky, dusty, and zero shade — go early.
📍 Open in MapsClimate normals for Isla de la Plata, Manabí, Ecuador (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°F / 27°C | 71°F / 22°C | 30 | 6:23 AM | 6:29 PM |
| Feb | 81°F / 27°C | 71°F / 22°C | 28 | 6:27 AM | 6:33 PM |
| Mar | 82°F / 28°C | 71°F / 22°C | 30 | 6:22 AM | 6:28 PM |
| Apr | 82°F / 28°C | 71°F / 22°C | 29 | 6:13 AM | 6:19 PM |
| May | 82°F / 28°C | 72°F / 22°C | 29 | 6:09 AM | 6:16 PM |
| Jun | 80°F / 27°C | 70°F / 21°C | 24 | 6:13 AM | 6:21 PM |
| Jul | 80°F / 27°C | 70°F / 21°C | 24 | 6:18 AM | 6:26 PM |
| Aug | 80°F / 27°C | 69°F / 21°C | 21 | 6:17 AM | 6:24 PM |
| Sep | 81°F / 27°C | 70°F / 21°C | 22 | 6:08 AM | 6:14 PM |
| Oct | 81°F / 27°C | 70°F / 21°C | 22 | 5:59 AM | 6:05 PM |
| Nov | 81°F / 27°C | 70°F / 21°C | 21 | 5:58 AM | 6:04 PM |
| Dec | 81°F / 27°C | 70°F / 21°C | 28 | 6:08 AM | 6:15 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Isla de la Plata, Manabí, Ecuador. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
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