Ever wonder where the roads of Isabela Island came from? I will tell you a story about Mirador del Mango. The Viewpoint El Mango is more than just a scenic overlook. It is a place with a past.
Mirador del Mango is located 9km from Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. From here you can see the island’s southern part. You can also view the agricultural area. The viewpoint got its name from the mango trees found here.
The road to Mirador del Mango passes through dry and transition vegetation zones. This makes it an attractive place to view the landscape and birds. Several species of finches can be spotted here at El Mango.
But El Mango wasn’t always a tourist destination. It once was a gravel mine. This mine provided materials to construct Isabela’s roads. Early settlers used the road to El Mango. Later, convicts traveled this road to reach camps in Santo Tomas and Alemania.
The site is historically significant to Isabela’s human development. The road and the mine at Mango Viewpoint are testaments to this history.
To get to the viewpoint, you need to walk a staircase and walkway.
So, as you stand here at Viewpoint El Mango, take in the scenery. Think about the history beneath your feet. The gravel mined here built the roads you traveled on. Consider the people who walked this path before you. Early settlers, convicts, and now you, the traveler. Viewpoint El Mango connects us to Isabela’s past. It provides a stunning view of its present.