Loading...
Loading...
Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
Puerto Ayora is the largest town in the Galapagos and the base for exploring one of the most extraordinary natural environments on earth. The town itself is small and entirely walkable, with the main strip of Avenida Charles Darwin running along the waterfront past restaurants, dive shops, and the fish market where sea lions and pelicans compete for scraps. The Charles Darwin Research Station at the eastern end of town houses the Giant Tortoise Breeding Program, where you can walk among these ancient creatures. The surrounding highlands of Santa Cruz Island are home to wild giant tortoises, lava tunnels, and the twin volcanic craters of Los Gemelos. Tortuga Bay, a stunning white-sand beach accessible via a 2.5-kilometer walking path, offers swimming alongside marine iguanas. The bay's pelican population and the sea lions lounging on benches in town make every walk a wildlife encounter.
explore by interest
The Galapagos sun is intense at the equator — wear reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and carry water. Stay on marked trails to protect the fragile ecosystem, and maintain a two-meter distance from wildlife.
Year-round — the Galapagos are fascinating in every season. January through May is warmer and wetter with calmer seas, while June through December is cooler with more wildlife activity.