By air
Seymour Airport (GPS) on Baltra, ~1 hour by bus, ferry and bus across the island
South America · Ecuador
Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
The Galápagos' main town, with sea lions on the pier
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to May for warm calm seas; June to November is cooler, with the richest marine life
Don't miss
Charles Darwin Research Station
Tortuga Bay
Las Grietas
El Chato tortoise reserve
Los Gemelos craters
The lava tunnels
Things to do
Walking to Tortuga Bay
Snorkelling at Las Grietas
Giant tortoises in the highlands
Day trips by boat to other islands
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Pete from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
What to pack
Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, water shoes, cash (the island has few ATMs); the national park fee is paid on arrival
A quieter corner
The fish market on the waterfront at midday, where pelicans and sea lions wait for scraps
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Puerto Ayora?
December to May for warm calm seas; June to November is cooler, with the richest marine life. What to pack: Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, water shoes, cash (the island has few ATMs); the national park fee is paid on arrival.
How do I get to Puerto Ayora?
Fly into Seymour Airport (GPS) on Baltra, ~1 hour by bus, ferry and bus across the island.
What is there to do in Puerto Ayora?
Walking to Tortuga Bay, snorkelling at Las Grietas, giant tortoises in the highlands, day trips by boat to other islands. A quieter find: The fish market on the waterfront at midday, where pelicans and sea lions wait for scraps.
What should I eat in Puerto Ayora?
Fresh fish and lobster on Los Kioskos street, ceviche, encebollado.
About Puerto Ayora
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
Puerto Ayora is the largest town of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island on Academy Bay, about 1,000 km west of the mainland in the Pacific Ocean.
History
The town was settled in the 1920s by Norwegian colonists and named after Isidro Ayora, then president of Ecuador. The Charles Darwin Research Station opened here in 1964, five years after the islands became a national park, and the town has since grown into the base for most Galápagos visitors.
People
Puerto Ayora's residents are mostly Ecuadorians from the mainland who came for fishing and then tourism; the waterfront is shared with sea lions dozing on benches and marine iguanas on the rocks. Spanish is spoken, and the evening gathers on Los Kioskos street for grilled fish.
Known for
- The Charles Darwin Research Station
- Tortuga Bay
- Giant tortoises in the highlands
- Sea lions and marine iguanas on the waterfront
Did you know?
Lonesome George, the last Pinta Island tortoise, lived at the research station in Puerto Ayora until his death in 2012.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.