This Puerto Ayora itinerary covers the essential things to do in Puerto Ayora Galapagos, combining wildlife encounters, landscapes, and daily island life over six days in Puerto Ayora.

Puerto Ayora Fish Market is a vibrant place where fishermen, seabirds, and sea lions share the morning routine.

The Galapagos Islands are a unique haven for wildlife, volcanic landscapes, and slow-paced exploration, and Puerto Ayora is the perfect base for a six-day adventure. This Puerto Ayora itinerary covers the best things to do in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, including encounters with sea lions and marine iguanas, hikes through misty Scalesia forests, visits to pristine beaches, and scenic bay tours. Whether you are planning your first visit or returning to the islands, this guide shows how to make the most of six days in Puerto Ayora.

White House Galapagos is an excellent base for a 6-day Puerto Ayora itinerary | Photo: Travel In Culture

When it comes to accommodation in Puerto Ayora, we recommend staying in a smaller, locally-run hotel like White House Galapagos. This charming, family-run hotel offers a tranquil escape with a lush garden, shaded patio, and hammocks, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploration. The welcoming hosts make you feel at home, and their local knowledge ensures you will get the most out of your time. Whether you are resting in the garden hammocks or chatting with the friendly staff about the best places to eat in town, you will find the perfect balance of comfort and authentic local charm.

Day 1: Arriving at Puerto Ayora & Exploring Los Kioskos

Our journey is beginning on Baltra Island, the main entry point to the Galapagos. Crossing the narrow Itabaca Channel, all passengers must leave their baggage on the unprotected ferry roof, which happens amid silent prayers that the waves will not send anything sliding into the water. Continuing by bus, we head directly towards Puerto Ayora, taking in the surrounding landscapes along the way. Stopping briefly along the roadside, we spot our first giant tortoise, grazing quietly among the vegetation, an unceremonious yet powerful introduction to the Galapagos way of life.

Boarding the small ferry at Baltra Island, we watch as passengers carefully place their luggage on the roof before crossing to the main island.

We enter the White House Galapagos hotel, a small property with only a handful of private rooms. Due to the year-round mild climate, the lobby is a partly open roundhouse, housing both the dining area and reception. There is a garden-like patio with trees and colourful birds, including beautiful yellow warblers, and hammocks attached to the trees for guests’ use.

The White House Galapagos hotel features a lovely garden | Photo: Travel In Culture

Arriving in Puerto Ayora Galapagos, we are stepping into a town that feels lived-in rather than polished. Unfinished houses, uneven pavements, and occasional construction sites sit alongside fruit stalls, schoolchildren, and fishermen unloading their catch.

What makes Puerto Ayora compelling is its authenticity, not perfection. Only the visible fronts of the houses are painted, whereas the backs are not. The reality differs slightly from our initial expectations. The picture we now get is not quite compatible with the orderly streets and houses we had imagined, based on knowing that wealthy tourists contribute to the economy by spending a fortune during their holidays cruising the Galapagos Islands. The town hums with the scent of tropical fruit, the laughter of children, and the constant chatter of locals going about their daily lives.

Life in motion: A Puerto Ayora local takes a morning stroll.

Absorbing all this, we quickly grow attached to the atmosphere, defined by open-air cooking, unfamiliar flavours, roaming animals, and a relaxed, welcoming rhythm. The local market offers a range of fruits and vegetables, fruit drinks, and slaughtered chicken. People are outgoing and straightforward, often sitting and chatting outside, all contributing to a strong sense of place. The town features a blend of South American and Caribbean ambience with a subtle touch of comfort that visitors also expect.

Seafood on the menu: scorpionfish at Charles Binford Street, Los Kioskos.

As evening approaches, we head towards Charles Binford Street, better known as Los Kioskos, the most atmospheric dining street in town. Plastic chairs spill onto the pavement, grills sizzle, and menus focus on fresh seafood. A plate of bananas is brought to our table even before ordering, seemingly replacing the bread we are used to at home. We linger over dinner, soaking up the open-air atmosphere, with reasonably priced scorpionfish and grilled fish among the local favourites. The street is a fantastic place to relax and one of the most enjoyable experiences in Puerto Ayora.

Day 2: Puerto Ayora’s Fish Market & Lava Tubes

A pelican eyes an easy meal from a fisherman at the market | Photo: Travel In Culture

The frigate birds above the Puerto Ayora Fish Market are beautiful. Now and then, they swoop, hoping for a treat from the fishermen unloading the day’s catch. A couple of pelicans and herons fight for attention, waddling across the market floor and lining up behind the central counter. They wait for scraps and even attempt to steal whenever possible. We linger, watching the birds soar into the air after being fed with bits of fish trimmings.

Sea lions occupying the benches is a common sight in Puerto Ayora | Photo: Travel In Culture

Two sea lions lie lazily on the other side of the counter, barely paying attention to the crowd watching. A third looks ready to snatch a bite of fish or a handout from the workers gutting and weighing yellowfin tuna and colourful scorpionfish, locally known as brujo. One of the sea lions ambles towards us on the pavement, completely unaffected as it passes.

Scorpionfish for sale at Puerto Ayora Fish Market | Photo: Travel In Culture

Later, we take a short trip to the lava tubes on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora, a fascinating volcanic formation shaped by flowing lava in the Galapagos Islands millions of years ago. These caves are short and easy to explore, offering a glimpse into the volcanic history of the islands. In contrast to many other lava tubes, daylight enters the tunnel due to an earlier collapse, allowing the lava-formed structures to be seen clearly. These lava tubes are ideal for travellers curious about geology or seeking an accessible alternative to longer, more demanding lava tunnels elsewhere.

Day 3: Tortuga Bay: A Pristine Paradise

We start our third day in Puerto Ayora with a breakfast from the local market, where you can buy fresh bananas and thick-skinned plantains, staples of Ecuadorian cuisine. Bananas come in all sizes, shapes, and shades of yellow and green and are eaten cooked or uncooked, as part of meals or as snacks. They feature at breakfast almost every day, and our favourite snack soon becomes chifles, thinly sliced and deep-fried salty crisps. We fuel up on bananas for our hike to Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos. It is about a few kilometres walk from town through cactus forest and peaceful mangrove areas.

The lagoon at Playa Mansa, Tortuga Bay | Photo: Travel In Culture

The bay’s white sandy beach is stunning, though the first beach is not suitable for swimming due to strong currents. Continuing to Playa Mansa, a serene lagoon appears where we swim in the calm waters together with colourful fish. There are also red Sally Lightfoot crabs and handsome marine iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks and a school of white-tip reef sharks gliding through the shallow waters. Exploring the cactus forest and spending the day at the pristine bay with its rich marine life is a highlight of our six days in Puerto Ayora. For a more detailed description of this walk and beach, we cover Tortuga Bay in depth in a separate article: Exploring Tortuga Bay Galapagos: Wildlife & Beaches

Handsome marine iguanas sunning themselves at Tortuga Bay.

Back in Puerto Ayora, we must try the empanadas at the local market recommended by our host family. Every evening, you can get the most delicious, deep-fried empanadas at the stalls in the market square, which at night once again turns into a vibrant gathering point, much like it does at dawn, with an authentic atmosphere. Chattering voices in the darkness surround the vibrant square.

Day 4: Playa de los Alemanes & Las Grietas

Yellow water taxis take visitors across the bay to Angemeyer Point.

On day four, we take a water taxi across the bay to Angemeyer Point, the launch point for a short walk to Playa de los Alemanes, a secluded beach known for its excellent snorkelling. The waters are teeming with colourful fish.

Spectacular crevices at Las Grietas reveal a hidden world of marine life.

Afterwards, we hike to Las Grietas, a stunning crevice in the volcanic rocks filled with clear turquoise water. It is popular to take a dip in the refreshing waters, which are a mix of saltwater and freshwater, and enjoy the sight of fish darting around in the crystal-clear pools. It is a remarkably unique and spectacular spot, which we later revisit during a day tour of Academy Bay, see also: Blue-footed Boobies and Giant Sea Turtles on a Bay Tour

In the afternoon, we make our way to Laguna de Las Ninfas, another tranquil lagoon with a mix of freshwater and saltwater, attracting a variety of birds and marine life. We observe a couple of beautiful spotted eagle rays. All of a sudden, one of the rays jumps out of the water with a gigantic splash. The lagoon also seems to be a favourite spot among the local young people to unwind and spend a couple of hours chatting and listening to music on the rickety platforms.

Day 5: Highland Tour & El Chato Ranch

For our fifth day, we set off on a highland tour to visit El Chato Ranch, home to the famous giant tortoises. Our journey takes us through the Los Gemelos Craters, which are volcanic depressions surrounded by lush Scalesia forests. The forest, which is endemic to the Galapagos, is home to fascinating mosses and orchids that thrive in this unique ecosystem.

Mud ponds offer a refreshing retreat for giant tortoises in the highlands.

At El Chato Ranch, we see the giant tortoises up close in their natural habitat, roaming freely in the highland meadows. These magnificent creatures, some over 100 years old, are an iconic part of Galapagos biodiversity. For details on how we organised this highland tour, see our travel article: Seeing the Giant Tortoises at El Chato Ranch

Day 6: Bay Tour & Playa de los Perros

Boats at Puerto Ayora, Galapagos | Photo: Travel In Culture

On our final day in Puerto Ayora, we embark on a bay tour around Academy Bay. The boat ride takes us to Caamaño Islet, a small island home to sea lions, and provides a close-up view of these playful creatures as they frolic in the water. Next, we stop at a prime snorkelling spot where we have the opportunity to swim with sea turtles and tropical fish. One of the highlights of the tour is our second visit to Las Grietas, before continuing to Playa de los Perros, a remote beach where we observe hundreds of orange Sally Lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas basking in the sun.

An elegant Sally Lightfoot crab hiding | Photo: Travel In Culture

As we take in the stunning volcanic landscape, we also pass by the pink salt lagoons and enjoy the scenic views that make the Galapagos Islands so special.
For a full description of the day tour, you may want to read: Blue-footed Boobies and Giant Sea Turtles on a Bay Tour

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