The island, of about 7 km2, is located off the southern coast of Manabí, from which it is separated by 45 km. It can be reached departing from Machalilla or Puerto Lopez, by means of a boat trip that takes no more than 2 hours, this being the port of arrival of the boats in which visitors disembark on the island.
This island also belongs to the favorite sites for diving lovers since it is surrounded by coral reefs and the average annual temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. Topographically, it has some high portions, lowlands, and 2 beach regions, called Playa Grande and Drake Bay, from which is the point where 2 roads of 3 and 5 kilometers that cross the arid ecosystems of the island depart. The coastal profile is full of cliffs and rocks that provide scenic resources of great beauty, on the other hand, the tour can take from 2 to 5 hours
and you can see nesting seabirds and others that accompany tourists. Isla de la Plata’s oceans are rich in fish and marine animals, which is why it has become one of the favorite destinations for divers and snorkelers. These occupations are done mainly at noon, after touring the island. Expert guides accompany tourists on the tours, take this requirement seriously at the time of hiring a tour, as the boat ride can last 2 hours, so it is advisable that you do it in advance since this way you will avoid the siege of tour sellers who will constantly seek higher costs.
The observation of the fauna is almost quick, the blue-footed boobies will appear on the way and you will be surprised how your presence does not scare them, you will have fun watching how they raise their legs in an improvised dance, which they use to attract the attention of their partners. The ones that dance are the male boobies, which, if they are already adults, will have their blue legs, the females are older and with them, they form pairs that are dedicated to protecting their young. Taking pictures of these beautiful birds is a simple task, they even seem to pose and know that they are being photographed. The “Red-legged” route leads to the other end of the island, from there it is simple to watch red-breasted frigate birds nesting in the vegetation. If you are lucky you will have the chance to watch the chicks, of singular beauty. The landscape of the island is special, the birds perch on the side of giant cactus that rise before beautiful panoramas of the Pacific Ocean or the whole of the nations, the beaches of Puerto Cayo and San Jose have the possibility to watch from afar.