Santa Cruz · Puerto Ayora · Ecuador
Experiences and local guides in Galápagos
Base yourself in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz: giant tortoises, sea lions and marine iguanas, snorkelling and diving, and day trips to islands such as Bartolomé or North Seymour.
Nature
Puerto Ayora, on the south coast of Santa Cruz island, is the most populated town in the Galápagos and the most practical base for exploring the archipelago, about 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador and a World Heritage Site since 1978. The volcanic islands are home to species found nowhere else: giant tortoises in the highlands, marine iguanas, sea lions and blue-footed boobies. Where cold and warm currents meet, marine life is exceptional, with sharks, rays and sea turtles. Most sites in the National Park can only be visited with a licensed naturalist guide.
Activities
- Day trips by boat with a naturalist guide to Bartolomé (Pinnacle Rock viewpoint and snorkelling), North Seymour (blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds), South Plaza or Santa Fe
- Diving at Gordon Rocks and other nearby sites, with hammerhead sharks and strong currents, for experienced divers only
- Tortuga Bay, about 2.5 km on foot from town: marine iguanas on the main beach, swimming only in the sheltered cove
- Las Grietas, a volcanic fissure of clear water for swimming and snorkelling, now entered with an accredited guide
- The Santa Cruz highlands: giant tortoises in the wild, lava tunnels and the Los Gemelos craters
- The Charles Darwin Research Station, right in Puerto Ayora, and its tortoise breeding centre, visited with a guide
When to go
The Galápagos can be visited all year. From December to May it is warmer (around 25 °C), the sea is calmer and sunshine alternates with short, heavy showers. June to November is the garúa season: cooler (about 22 °C), overcast skies, drizzle and choppier seas, with colder, nutrient-rich water. Book day trips ahead, as visitor numbers per site are limited.
How to get there
Flights from Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) land at Baltra (GPS), 1 h 30 to 2 h from Guayaquil. The Transit Control Card is registered before check-in, and the National Park entry fee is paid on arrival. From Baltra: bus to the Itabaca Channel, a 10-minute barge crossing, then a 30 to 45-minute bus or taxi ride to Puerto Ayora. Public speedboats link Puerto Ayora with Isabela and San Cristóbal in 2 to 3 h.
Nature, activities, experiences and guides with links, to read offline.
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Local operators identified in Galápagos (8)
Guides and operators working in the area according to public information (their website or social media). They are not Trekonda members yet: contact them directly on their site. If you are one of them, claim your free profile to receive requests here.