Puerto Ayora
Puerto Ayora is the principal town on Santa Cruz and the largest centre for accommodation, restaurants, shops, services and excursions in the Galápagos. It is an excellent base for exploring the island, but it is also an enjoyable and lively place to experience in its own right.
A lively Galápagos town
Puerto Ayora has an impressive range of restaurants, pavement cafés and shops, from relaxed local establishments to sophisticated restaurants and high-end boutiques. More restaurants, shops and everyday businesses can be found in the streets behind the waterfront.
The town feels safe and lived-in, with a healthy mixture of Ecuadorian daily life and tourism. It is busy and active without feeling entirely dominated by visitors. On Fridays, part of Charles Darwin Avenue is closed to traffic for activities in the street, bringing residents and visitors together in the centre of town.
Puerto Ayora also has the liveliest nightlife in the Galápagos. Bongo Bar is at the centre of nightlife for many younger residents and visitors, while other bars and late-night venues can be found around the town centre.
The waterfront and its wildlife
The waterfront is one of Puerto Ayora’s most enjoyable features. Around the fishermen’s area, sea lions and pelicans sometimes interact with the fishermen, while marine iguanas can often be seen nearby.
The passenger pier is an excellent place to look for wildlife both during the day and after dark. Sea lions, marine iguanas, pelicans, sharks, sea turtles and occasionally rays can be seen in and around the clear harbour water. This mixture of wildlife, boats and town life provides an immediate introduction to the unusual relationship between people and animals in the Galápagos.
A base for exploring Santa Cruz
From Puerto Ayora, visitors can reach the Santa Cruz Highlands, Tortuga Bay, Las Grietas, the Charles Darwin Research Station and many other places around the island. It is also the principal departure point for day cruises to nearby uninhabited islands.
This makes it possible to combine organised excursions with independent time, good meals, shopping and relaxed evenings around town.
How Puerto Ayora fits into a journey
Some visitors use Puerto Ayora for only a night at the beginning or end of a trip, while others stay for several days and use it as their principal base. The right choice depends particularly on the Santa Cruz visitor sites and day cruises they want to include.
Interested in visiting Puerto Ayora?
Tell us your approximate travel dates, group size and interests. We’ll help you fit this experience into a sensible Galápagos itinerary.
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