About the Port
Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galápagos Islands, sits on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island and serves as the archipelago's main port and hub for exploring its extraordinary wildlife. The town is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where a tortoise breeding center allows close views of hatchlings and adults of the giant species that gave the islands their name. Darwin's finches, whose subtle variations helped inspire the theory of evolution, are frequently spotted in the surrounding scrubland and highlands.
Beyond the research station, the harbor front bustles with fishing boats, sea lions, and marine iguanas, offering an easy introduction to the islands' unusual biodiversity within walking distance of the pier. Puerto Ayora also serves as a practical base for reaching the volcanic highlands and nearby snorkeling sites, making it a natural starting point for deeper exploration of this uniquely protected corner of Ecuador.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Puerto Ayora.
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
Walk through breeding enclosures to see giant tortoises of all ages up close, plus finches and land iguanas in native habitat; an easy 15-minute walk from the pier.
Explore the Highlands Tortoise Reserves
Head into Santa Cruz's misty highlands to watch giant tortoises roam wild in muddy pastures and lava tunnels, best reached by a short taxi or organized tour.
Stroll the Malecón Waterfront
Amble along the harbor promenade among lounging sea lions, marine iguanas, and pelicans, then browse fish market stalls right where the day's catch comes in.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Puerto Ayora
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 7 | $9,812 | |
| Aug 26, 2026 | HX | MS Santa Cruz II | 8 | $6,652 | |
| Aug 27, 2026 | HX | MS Santa Cruz II | 11 | $10,240 | |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 10 | $18,750 | |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 11 | $18,900 | |
| Aug 30, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 7 | $16,750 | |
| Sep 9, 2026 | HX | MS Santa Cruz II | 8 | $6,843 | |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 11 | $8,869 | |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 10 | $8,719 | |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Silversea | Silver Origin | 7 | $11,690 | |
| Sep 20, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 7 | $6,719 | |
| Sep 24, 2026 | HX | MS Santa Cruz II | 11 | $10,520 | |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Silversea | Silver Origin | 7 | $11,340 | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 16 | $19,441 | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 10 | $11,091 | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 11 | $11,241 | |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Silversea | Silver Origin | 7 | $28,710 | |
| Oct 11, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 7 | $11,309 | |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 16 | $19,100 | |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Celebrity | Celebrity Flora | 11 | $10,900 |
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