Isla de la Plata is a small island off the coast of Manabí, Ecuador, and is part of Parque Nacional Machalilla. Guided tours of the island are given on a couple of different hiking trails. It can be reached by boat from the city of Puerto López, which is 40 km away.

History

There is a shrine from Inca times located on the island.

Environment

On the island, there is a large diversity of animal species, including the blue-footed booby, red-footed booby, and the Nazca booby. Another species found here is the South American sea lion.

Important Bird Area

The island has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of resident Esmeraldas woodstars, magnificent frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies, breeding waved albatrosses, and wandering tattlers on passage.

In popular culture

Isla de la Plata is featured in an episode of the travel series Jet Set Zero.

Gallery

<Gallery> File:Blue-footed Booby at Isla de la Plata.jpg|Blue-footed booby on Isla de la Plata in winter. File:Blue-footed Booby with young.jpg|Blue-footed booby with new young on Isla de la Plata. File:Isla de la Plata tour.jpg|Tour guide addresses customers at the beginning of a tour. </Gallery>