Final Day in Izzy

 Hey everyone! 

Today was a packed final day in Isabela which included beach time, history, and wildlife. After breakfast, we headed to a bike rental shop to get our bikes for today’s excursion to Muro de Lágrimas. We biked alongside the local beach for a couple of miles before entering a forested trail. Along the way, we saw a couple of giant tortoises, and even saw a pair mating. We learned that most islands have an endemic subspecies of tortoise, and some islands even have multiple species that are divided by geographical barriers. At the end of the trail, we stopped at Muro de Lágrimas, a wall built by former prisoners on the island. The construction of the wall was a project designed to pass time for prisoners from 1946-1959. On the way back, we stopped at a secluded beach and saw some of the biggest marine iguanas we have seen. Following lunch, some of  us decided to explore some of the shops and cafes of the town. We stopped at a local coffee shop and enjoyed cookies and milkshakes, and then stopped by a empanada stand, which had some of the best empanadas we’ve had this trip! We even saw a couple of flamingoes at a lagoon in the middle of town. Finally, we walked down the beach and watched the sunset before heading back for a delicious dinner. Though we are sad to leave Isabela tomorrow, we are all so excited to go back to Santa Cruz and enjoy everything the island has to offer!

-Manav