Puerto Ayora

Puerto Ayora is located on the southern point of Isla Santa Cruz, which is the second largest island in the Galapagos chain. Arrival here is by plane via Baltra and visitors here must present a passport with an Ecuadorian Visa as well as $100 for park entrance and island fee. If you are meeting a guide, you will be met at a pre arranged boat location or head to Puerto Ayora, 45 minutes away. There are also hotels in Puerto Ayora to be had.

Charles Darwin Research Station

In Puerto Ayora, one of the best known places to go is the Charles Darwin Research Station located at Avenida Charles Darwin in Puerto Ayora. This research station has many exhibits of the natural history of the islands. Other things to see here include: Scalesia trees, Opuntia cacti, Giant tortoise, marine and land iguanas, lava lizard, finches, Galapagos penguin, swallow tailed gull, lava gull, little fire ant, sea lion sea cucumbers and fur seals to name a few. Hotels in Puerto Ayora are available to accommodate visitors to this place of interest such as Casa De Amigos located at Same Esmeraldas.

Tortuga Bay

Puerto Ayora has another well known site in Tortuga Bay, which is a 30 minute walk from the town. White sandy beaches and clear water make it a destination well worth travelling to. It is also a surfer’s paradise. The surf quality is good and very consistent, usually 150 days of the year. This is the only beach in Puerto Ayora. Also this is an environmentally protected area, so take care when you are here. This area is surrounded by forest, and volcanic rocks, and is a breathtaking place to view the animals in their natural habitat. Hotels in Puerto Ayora are very traveler friendly such as B&B Peregrina, located at Av. Charles Darwin, and Finch Bay Galapagos Eco Hotel.

Other Activities in Puerto Ayora

Puerto Ayora has a good many activities to do when here. For example, if you love to sea kayak, the Red Mangrove Inn is the place to rent a kayak and explore the island of Santa Cruz. Now if you love scuba diving, then this is also the place for you. Day trips can be accessed with local guides and dive masters. These dives average $110 per day for two dives. Scuba Iguana is a good place to contact for this type of activity. Snorkelers can also have fun at Punta Estrada and the Island of Loberia. If you love horseback riding, then Neptuno is the operator of choice here and costs $15 USD per person. Hotels in Puerto Ayora include Red Mangrove Inn located close to Charles Darwin Research Station.

Food for Thought

Puerto Ayora has its share of good restaurants and most of the hotels in Puerto Ayora have restaurants inside. Depending upon what you want to eat, there is a restaurant to suit that hunger. Most of these restaurants are located on Av. Charles Darwin. One of these is Capricho which is located a couple of minutes away from the west entrance to the Station. This is one tasty place to fill you up. Another one of note is the Quatro Laternas, which is one of the most popular restaurants here. However this restaurant which serves up Italian food is only open for dinner. If you are looking for a street vendor, then try Williams.

Medical Information

Puerto Ayora is a good place to be, but sometimes you need a bit of medical help while on holiday. With that in mind, be aware that if it is a major emergency then you will need to be flown to the mainland. However, there is medical help available here in the person of Dr. Darquea. He can help with the basics of medical care. He is a bit inland from the Station, but can be found easily by asking a local. If you have a bit more complex issues, then the Red Cross Hospital is your best bet. Most hotels in Puerto Ayora will know how to get medical help for you.

Shopping in Puerto Ayora

When in Puerto Ayora, you will probably want to shop for souvenirs. Hotels in Puerto Ayora can give you some information, or if you want to explore on your own, then here are some places to go when in Puerto Ayora. Galapagos Ceramics is located right outside Charles Darwin Station and offers unusual ceramics. There are also tourist shops around every corner. Check with hotels in Puerto Ayora.