Best Things to Do in Puerto Ayora in the Galapagos!
It’s 8:00AM. We’re on Isla Santa Cruz, the most populated island in the Galapagos ~ in its main town: Puerto Ayora. It’s a balmy 80 degrees, & we’re about to meet our guide for a day filled with adventure in this tropical paradise. So what are the best things to do in Puerto Ayora? Nobody knows better than a local where to go on this gorgeous island, so I’ve called in reinforcements to help write this article! Meet my friend, Adicho….avid fisherman, tour guide, surfer, & an expert on all things Galapagos. He took me to the best spots on the island, & we’ll tour them here…
Best Things to Do in Puerto Ayora
On the agenda:
- Exploring Puerto Ayora’s world-famous watering hole, Las Grietas;
- Meeting native turtles at El Chato Tortoise Reserve;
- Taking a boat tour for snorkeling & up-close animal encounters; &
- Exploring Ecuadorian nightlife.
What You Need in the Galapagos
The #1 most IMPORTANT thing you need as you enjoy the best things to do in Puerto Ayora is….SUNSCREEN!!! Make it the strongest you can find!!! I can’t emphasize this enough. The Galapagos Islands sit directly on the equator. The sun is SO powerful here: I got a horrendous third-degree burn after just 20 minutes in the sun!!!
And of course, a waterproof camera is essential.
Read Next: Best Mineral Sunscreens for Travel
Best Things to Do in Puerto Ayora
First up: let’s grab breakfast before heading to Las Grietas. My pick: Galapagos Planet. You can get an American-style breakfast with coffee for around $5, & it’s across the street from Puerto Ayora’s main dock, where we’ll catch a boat to Las Grietas.
GWTW Tip: Across the street from Galapagos Planet is a shaded pergola where sea lions LOVE to hang out! Not many tourists know about this spot, so it’s a great opportunity to get close to sea lions ~ minus the crowds (stay 5-6 feet away).
Now, let’s head to Las Grietas. Walk to the main dock, just a few hundred yards from Galapagos Planet. Many tours leave from here; so the dock is busy all day. Walk to the last dock on the right, to catch a 5-minute water-taxi across the bay: to our starting point for the walk to Las Grietas.
Make sure to look for lazy sea lions lounging on benches…

“I’m just stretching out….”
1) Las Grietas Swimming Grotto!
When your water taxi drops you off at the dock across the bay, follow signs towards “Las Grietas.” You’ll pass a beach on the left, after which you’ll cross a long, wooden boardwalk with pretty views on both sides.
GWTW Tip: Instead of heading straight for Las Grietas – just before you get to the stairs leading down to the grotto, take a detour to the left. You can walk the entire length of Las Grietas, & look down into the grotto from various lookouts.
To get to the “Grotto,” simply head down a set of wooden stairs (shown below). You’ll hear sounds of laughter, splashes, & if it’s a warm day: you’ll find plenty of people coming up & down.
This is a popular spot ~ even for locals!
Bring your swim suit, a towel, snorkel gear, & a waterproof camera. When you venture into the water, leave your belongings on the rocks nearby (you can watch them the whole time, in case you’re worried about safety).
Budget approximately 3 hours minimum for a venture out to Las Grietas from Puerto Ayora ~ & more if you take the detour.
2) El Chato Tortoise Reserve
Next up: hail a taxi for a ride to El Chato Tortoise Reserve, about 15-minutes from Puerto Ayora. The island changes the further you venture from town. It will start to look more tropical & green, with lush foliage & broader vistas (you’ll climb in altitude a bit).
When you get to the Reserve, grab a delicious cup of coffee at their main visitor’s center, take a photo between the tortoise shells on display, then head out for a tour of the grounds.

Wandering the grounds of El Chato Tortoise Reserve at our own pace (you can go by yourself, or with a guide).
In the Reserve, you’re able to watch tortoises in their natural habitat. It’s very peaceful, with gentle, meandering paths to amble along. It’s different than the Charles Darwin Research Station (also on Isla Santa Cruz), as you can walk right next to the turtles, out in the wild. At Charles Darwin, they’re inside enclosures ~ & you obviously can’t enter them.
The Reserve is a more interactive experience.
Wander on your own, or tour with a guide for a more thorough explanation of the area. Budget at least 2-3 hours for El Chato, including the drive there. And leave time for the volcanic craters nearby…
Quick Pitstop by El Chato: Volcano Craters
After enjoying your time at El Chato, have your driver make a quick stop up the street ~ so that you can check out one or two, HUGE craters left from the island’s volcanic activity. Views are great, & it’s worth a stop before heading back to town. If you have more time, stay awhile & hike around the craters.
Adicho & I ran into NO other people here, making it a more off-the-beaten-path Puerto Ayora adventure.
3) Take a Boat Tour!
In our list of the best things to do in Puerto Ayora, we can’t leave out the #1 thing you came here to do ~ which is to swim with the endless array of animals that live in the Galapagos Islands!
The best way to do this is by taking a guided boat tour: & there are COUNTLESS options available from Puerto Ayora. Depending how many people are in your tour, rates run from $50-120+, & you can book at any tour operator along Ave. Charles Darwin. You can also reserve highly reputable tours on Viator, all over the Galapagos Islands.
Tours generally start at 7AM, & return around sunset.

Our boat tour had 8 passengers on-board, which seemed like the perfect number. Ages & nationalities varied, making it fun to meet people from all over the world.
Two Popular Boat Tours in Puerto Ayora:
I’ll discuss two tours in particular here (I went on both):
1) The first tour visited three small islands in one day: North Seymour (known for blue-footed boobies), Daphne Mayor, & Pinzon. All are located by Isla Santa Cruz, & due to their north-western locations: this tour left from the northern-most dock on the island (which also takes you to Baltra Airport).
We stopped at a beautiful beach for lunch (with amazing fresh ceviche made on-board!), swam with sea turtles & sea lions, & viewed countless iguanas, birds, & fish that are indigenous to the Galapagos.
It was a great introductory tour to the islands….
2) The second tour was to Isla Santa Fe (southeast of Santa Cruz), which is known for SEA LIONS!! We stayed in the water for at least an hour here, snorkeling with the most playful bunch of sea lions I’ve ever met ~ one even snagged the fin off of my foot! I’m DEAD serious!! These sea lions have a sense of humor!
This was probably one of the best days I’ve ever had in the water. On our way back, we stopped at a jaw-droppingly GORGEOUS beach on Isla Santa Cruz, where we swam with (baby) sharks, & took an on-land tour, encountering MORE sea lions up close, as well as tons of marine iguanas!

We found this GORGEOUS, uninhabited beach on our way back from Isla Santa Fe. One of the best reasons to take a boat tour is to find out-of-the-way places like this ~ & because the guides know where to find the animals.

How many animals can you spot in this photo??! (Hint: marine iguanas blend in very well with the rocks ; )
Check Out Great Galapagos Tours on Viator
4) Dinner & Dancing!
For dinner options in Puerto Ayora: you’ve got plenty. Simply walk along Ave. Charles Darwin & check out all the menus ~ see which appeals to you most. My vote is always for ceviche!
Try: La Cevicheria.
For an after-dinner drink with live music: head to Limon y Café. It’s a great place to start the evening, & is popular with locals of all ages. For great dancing & LOUD music: head to Bongo Bar, right in the heart of town, next to La Garrapata. Bongo is a two-story bar with a dance floor upstairs, pool tables, & a mix of Top 40 U.S. hits & popular Latino music.
If you’re looking for a party: this is the place.
Where I Stayed in Puerto Ayora
- Under $50/night: If you’re on a budget, I highly recommend the Gloria Galapagos Hotel, located in downtown Puerto Ayora, walk-able to the water, restaurants, & main dock. With its sunny yellow rooms & cheap price ($35/night), this family-run hotel is a gem.
- For more upscale options, try Angermeyer Waterfront Inn ($255+), which is on the way to Las Grietas swimming hole. Or check out Blu Galapagos Waterfront Lodge ($142+), which is located closer to town, on the way to the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Best Things to Do in Puerto Ayora
There are still a TON of things to do in Puerto Ayora! If I wrote about ALL of them, this post would simply be too long. For more ideas, click on the post below: which covers other highlights like Tortuga Bay, more turtle-viewing spots, & secret beaches!
Read Next: Guide to Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos
Love the tips and layout of your blog! We’re headed to the Galapagos Islands this spring, and I can see by reading this article that Santa Cruz is an island we can’t miss! Question: we want to stay somewhere a little more luxurious than where you stayed, ideally on the ocean. Any ideas? Thank you! Amanda
Hi Amanda! Thanks for writing, & I’m JEALous you’ll be in the Galapagos soon! Santa Cruz is definitely a can’t-miss island, & it’s also a great base to explore many of the other islands from. As for waterfront hotels near Puerto Ayora, you’ve got Angermeyer Waterfront Inn ($300+/night), Finch Bay Eco Hotel ($400+), Hotel Solymar Galapagos ($170+), & Red Mangrove Eco Luxury Lodge ($300+) ~ which is close to my favorite coffee spot, OMG Galapagos! Hope that helps : ) xoxo Noelia