Worth a visit if you are already in Puerto Ayora, but I wouldn’t make a special visit for this center. If you do come here, getting a guide is worthwhile, IMO. You will get more out of the visit. Plan to spend 1-2 hours here, no more. I’m a bit surprised by the whining in other reviews about the $10 admission fee and the cost of a guide, considering the money supports the giant tortoise breeding and conservation program. Really folks?

So so museum, got famous because carry on Darwin’s name. Going to the area is free & if you want a guide and short special way not thru the brick roads to see the breeding turtle and Galapagos- saddleback turtle THEN you need to pay $10…. Tips: if u don’t want to pay, go to the main building pass the cafe and if no one guarding it.. turn left then u will see the turtles..

The guides are really passionate about what they know and they are so generous in sharing! I got to differentiate between species of land tortoises today. It's cool how there are dome shaped and saddleback ones! And they are all evolutionary different! Also got to know a haunting piece of history. Seamen kept hundreds on tortoises upside down on boats for up to a year for fresh meat. 🥲🥲🥲🥲

It’s worth noting that while the Charles Darwin Research Center is free to enter, if you’d like to see the giant tortoises up close, there is a $10 fee per person and you must go with a guide. Fortunately, guides are easy to find as you begin the walk up, with several local operators offering their services. The guided visit is well worth it—we learned a great deal about the different tortoise species found on the various islands, how their unique shells and sizes have adapted to their environments, and the ongoing conservation projects to restore their populations. The Center also provides insight into the challenges of invasive species, habitat loss, and the careful breeding programs that help ensure these peaceful, long-living creatures will thrive for generations to come. One of the most memorable parts of the visit is seeing Lonesome George, the most famous tortoise in the Galápagos. For decades, George was the last known individual of his subspecies from Pinta Island and became a worldwide symbol of conservation. Although he passed away in 2012, his remains are preserved and displayed at the Center, offering a powerful reminder of the fragility of island ecosystems and the importance of protecting them. Beyond the tortoise enclosures, the Center’s surrounding beaches are fascinating in their own right. These coastal areas serve as important breeding grounds for marine iguanas, and depending on the season, you can spot them basking on the rocks or nesting in the sand. The beaches also attract a variety of seabirds, crabs, and lizards, making the walk itself a chance to encounter Galápagos wildlife up close. It’s both an educational and memorable stop, blending conservation with natural beauty.

The Charles Darwin Research Station was founded in 1959 in partnership with UNESCO, and is open to the public. It’s dedicated to protecting and breeding Galapagos giant tortoises. The Station also conducts biological research to understand and protect the flora and fauna of Galapagos. We spotted groups of lizards sunning themselves on the grounds and rocks around the grounds. The Galapagos research center is free to visit. There is a $10 per person fee to accompany a nature guide and explore the grounds where the giant tortoises are hatched and live. One of the center’s goals is to breed and release tortoises back to the wild when they’re about 5 years old. Since the 1960’s, they’ve released more than 2,000 healthy tortoises on the Galapagos Island. The tortoise shells are painted with numbers. Hatchlings and young tortoises of different ages live in separate areas at the center. Their Natural History Interpretive Center features skeletons of a whale and dwarf sperm whale. Exhibits highlight achievements and challenges of their marine animal and tortoise research. There’s a sculpture and moving tribute to Lonesome George. He was the world’s last Pinta Giant tortoise when he died in 2012. We found a nice selection of Darwin Center t-shirts, books and souvenirs in their gift shop. All purchases support their foundation. There’s an outdoor cafe nearby to purchase cold drinks and light snacks. Look for sculptures of Darwin around the center for popular photo spots.

Having been to almost 100 countries + Antarctica, I am very selective when visiting a place with limited time. As other travels have said, the ground and the museum are free, but if you come all the way to the Galapagos, you have to see the giant tortoises and the preserved remains of Longsome George (Pinta Island giant tortoise). To gain access to see these tortoises (babies and adults), you will find a guide gathering people inside the museum for a guided tour ($10 cash only). I was hesitant about paying at first, but it was totally worth it after having come all the way to Puerto Ayora.

Found the tour of the facilities to be brilliant. Our guide was very informative. We did a tour in English and Spanish and it was helpful to hear the spanish too as we are learning. We were able to see the tortoises at all stages, from babies up till fully grown adults. You have to pay for a guided tour to see the facilities in full. There is a part of the facilities with free exhibition that you can do on your own. But I would recommend paying for the tour. It only cost us 10 USD per person and was an hour and 15mins long. We learnt about other animals and habitats on the island too.

Worth doing if you have the time. We got a ticket in advance from a tour agent near our hotel, for the same price of $10, this meant not having to wait when we got there. We arrived 0915 and it wasn’t too busy, but was getting very busy when we left. There are two swimming areas which the alternate depending on numbers of people. Water is cool, but refreshing. The clarity of the water depends on how much rain they have had recently. The walk is about 15-20 mins from water tax I drop off. You get hire a life jacket for $5, but if you are an ok swimmer you don’t really need one.

We enjoyed swimming here after experiencing some murky and shallow water at Tortuga bay. The water is clear but there are not much fish. Also, we were lucky enough to have a smaller group then those thatcame before and after us. If we had a larger group then the experience would be more diminished.

Beautiful place to visit! I visited Las Grietas on the Bay Tour via Galapagos Blue Sky. We arrived in the morning and there we no other people than my tour group. Nice place to have a quick dive, Not a lot of fish to see during snorkeling, but I was able to capture some. I recommend to visit Las Grietas via the Bay Tour, because you can also see other beautiful places in the bay of Puerto Ayora

Must visit if ur in Santa Cruz, recommend to do Bahia tour instead of water taxi 1$ + entrance $10.. bring snorkel else not really worth it

Very unique swimming area that we had all to ourselves for the majority of the time. So peaceful. Could see some parrot fish were in there, but I wouldnt recommend renting snorkeling gear just for this. Just enjoy your time swimming and exploring. If you have other plans to use the gear then bring it. Don't need to book a tour in town for this. Just take a water taxi fromthe main pier over for $1 and then pay $10 per person for entry and the guide you get. You'll get 45 minutes to swim. Very good half day activity.

We had a lovely snorkeling experience here! I've posted the photo of the tour times below as you'll need to sign up and pay for one to enter if you're not a local resident (in that case it's free entry anytime). The tour was $10 and there are both Spanish speaking and English speaking guides available. You get to swim for 45min in the canyon and it's gorgeous, with super clear conditions and crisp cool water temperatures. If you're careful you can cross the rocks on the far side and continue all the way to the end, where there are steps leading up to a lovely oceanside view too.

It’s about 20 minutes walk from the starting point and you can only go with a guide. It’s $10/person and the experience was amazing. We walked by some endemic cactus trees and then we got up on the hill and the view was spectacular. Las Grietas was right there , amazing view from the top if you don’t want to take a swim. But you can also experience that and do some snorkeling there.

It was breathtaking to see all of the tortoises live freely in nature! There was sooo many of them all over the ranch! Our guide was so knowledgeable and helped us appreciate these animals even more. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the lunch on the ranch was amazing. It was unlike anything I've ever seen!

We visited El Chato early in the morning and had a peaceful, almost private tour with a very knowledgeable guide. We saw giant tortoises up close, explored lava tunnels, and learned so much about the local nature. The trails were muddy, but they provided rubber boots which made it easy. At the entrance, they also offered us delicious coffee for free — such a nice touch. A beautiful and unforgettable experience!

You can see the tortoises and the birds from where you eat. The food was good and we even hiked down the lava tunnel and around the ranch to see the tortoises. If you visit the islands I highly recommend you add El Chato Ranch to your list

El Chata Ranch is a wonderful place to see the tortoises in the natural environment. An added bonus is the lava tunnels at the same location. We were served a lovely lunch at the restaurant.

Very nice tour if you like nature and seeing the native tortoises. The way we did it was by contacting a local taxi in Puerto Ayora, paid $50 and the driver took us first to "Los Gemelos" where you do a short walking trail and see the craters... Then we're taken to the ranch. The taxi driver will wait through your visit and take you back to Puerto Ayora when you're done. The ranch tour itself has a separate price of $10 for foreigners, $5 for nationals, and a guide walks with you explaining about the tortoises.

Beautiful experience and well kept trails with some coffee and tea at the end. That being said, skip the gift shop and buy from the locals in town. This place charges almost $10 bucks per person and gets at least 1000 a day. Plus, they don't own the turtles, they just hang there. Some local artisans in town would appreciate your money there than this money hungry farm.

Entrance fee $10 USD. To get wifi $2 USD. Free tea and coffee for customers. You can walk around yourself or have a guided tour that is 30-40 min (recommend it). The guide took us on a walk on the reserve to show us tortoises and then took us to a couple of lava tunnels.

Went there mid morning and saw the fishermen cleaning their fish from early morning fishing trip. We bought Red Scorpion fish, about a pound for a little over $4! I pan fried it with light seasoning and it was delicious!! Don’t let the look of the fish keep you from trying it. It has a mild taste and flaky texture, very similar to grouper and sea bass…not fishy at all!! They also have freshly caught spiny lobsters!!

Awesome. Great place to watch the pelicans and seals. Also saw Manta treasures and baby shake in the water. Great free entertainment

This is an incredible place to visit to see a variety of wildlife up close. The fishermen arrive with their catches and add they fillet and prepare them, they throw the waste to the wildlife that wait patiently. You can see seals, pelicans, herons, sea iguanas and the craziest thing are the large Frigate birds that repeatedly circle the market, waiting for the perfect chance to swoop in and steal from the other birds. I went to Frigate Hill on San Cristobal and was disappointed not to see any Frigate birds there, but this place more than made up for it. I'd recommend a visit to anyone. The fishermen even let children throw the waste scraps to the birds. Great close up photo opportunities await you here, as you can see from the photos that I'll upload.

$4/kg for fresh Tuna and $8/LB for live lobster here; also you can see sea lions, pelicans, and herons are waiting eagerly for scraps, with iguanas roaming nearby.

What a terrific find on Sunday morning. So much to see - truly and authentic experience. Sealions and pelicans stealing fish off fishermen....this is what this place is all about. It's a free performance is when the fishermen return with their catches. Stand with the locals- watch the shopping - this is theatre and the show is fun.

Muelle de Los Pescadores is entertaining and colorful. The fishermen dock their boats here to be deboned. Sea lions, birds and iguanas behave like pets waiting for scraps. Locals and tourist purchase the fresh catch. Vhuntermassage LLC

Only one fresh market in the island. There will be one sea lion who is always here and wait for free fish. It quite a bit lazy to catching fishes by itself. You can find load of lobsters to buy but if your accommodation does not have kitchen appliances, it is better to go to restaurant which seafoods are also fresh. Good to visit this place.

A lovely, picturesque beach which is well worth a visit. There was a bit of a swell coming in that stirred up the sand, so the snorkeling wasn't very good, but in terms of a swimming beach, it was still great. The soft, fine sand feels good underfoot, and it's a lovely setting. As a bonus, there was a lone flamingo in the lagoon having a bit of a feed.

This beach was absolutely STUNNING! We had the entire place almost completely to ourselves! The sands were so soft and the water was so warm. It was worth the drive and visit! They h had two changing rooms, but unfortunately the bathrooms were closed. It was definitely the most beautiful beach I've ever been to!

Beautiful beach, nice soft white sand. From the parking following a footpath to get there. Bicycle owners!!!!! Do not use the bicycle stand in the sand!!! It is covered with a kind of spike from a tree around this area so stay away and park it somewhere else. We had 14 punctures and no repair kit!!

Gorgeous and peaceful beach. Bring water & sunscreen. If you ride a scooter here a jacket is a lifesaver, the route is often chilly/damp through Bellavista.

Feeling restless on my last day in Puerto Ayora, I walked and walked from Mainao Hotel to Tortuga Bay Beach, enjoying the outdoor beauty. A white Pickup Truck/Taxi caught my attention on my way back to Charles Darwin Avenue. I inquired about the taxi fee to the airport for the following morning. We agreed on the fee $25.00, then he offered to drive me to Playa El Garrapatero, wait for me and return me to Mainao for $50.00. I explained that I did not have the $50.00 with me. He took a chance on me, while he drove we amicably communicated. Playa El Garrapatero is peaceful; it has a camping area, kayaks for rent and a pond where flamingos gather. Once, the driver returned me to the Mainao Hotel, he waited for me to return with his earned $ 50.00. The following morning, he drove me to the airport ( Santa Cruz Ferry Terminal ) Vhuntermassage LLC

Fantastic beach in Eastern Santa Cruz, Galápagos. We arrived there by taxi, normally 40 USD for a two way trip but able to get a better price after negotiation. Remember to pay after the return trip just to make sure you are picked up at the agreed time (it can be difficult to find a one way taxi from the beach in the evening). Idilic spot with plenty of sun and warm, turquoise sea water. Remember to bring plenty of sunscreen! We were lucky and found one of the few shades under a manzanillo tree. Horse flies might be a problem, particularly if you get closer to the mangles. We were told to bring mosquitoes repelent but fortunately they didn't bother.

A short taxi or car ride from Puerto Ayora is Garrapatero beach. Very nice and clean, with camping amenities for visitors. You can rent a kayak at the camping site.

If you don't have time, I would skip this, but if you have several days on Santa Cruz, I highly recommend this area. You walk on a boardwalk through the mangrove forest. You see lots of bird life and many fish in the clear waters. You can watch the big fish chasing (and sometimes eating) the smaller fish. You may see birds come in and catch some fish too. It is a nice relaxing walk.

Nothing to see here it he no access beside to walk up to a pier

The place is closed permanently

Quiet spot with walkway, some information and view of lagoon containing fish.

Not much to see or do here, sit and relax or take a picture but nothing else

Good for a walk

Closed when we tried to go.

Lovely beach to relax- you can access easily for $1 water taxi from the pier (ramp #2) from the town. The water taxis leave every few minutes and you drive 3 minutes across to angermeyer dock, and then you walk 5 minutes to get to Alemanes.

Wonderful little beach. Take the water taxi across the bay (tell them you're going to Las Grietas for clarity). The path from the water taxi dock is obvious. No guide needed if you're stopping at the beach.

Not priority to go but I. Go to los grietas by yourself then you will pass this point.. the water taxi stop over here to go to the beach and Los grietas

Really good place to come and relax after going to Las Grietas! At this beach you can come here and take a bath and enjoy. If you have some money go take a mojito or margarita at the bar at the hotel ($12 each). Also you can use the pool for $30 dollars.

This place is great to go snorkeling. Just take a taxi boat and you are there in 15 minutes!! Great beach, not to big, not to small!! It was perfect!!

Nice local beach to relax after going to Las grietas. It costs 1usd to take the water taxi, make sure you go back before 5 or when there’s less people to make sure you can go back

Very nice beach just in front of the Finch Bay hotel. Take the water taxi at the pier four about a minute or two, and a 4-5 minute walk brings you to the nice place.

A nice small beach next to estacion Darwin....short walk from the center of Puerto ayora

Not the best, but good enough for a quick swim. You need to walk half km in direction La Estación Charles Darwin. Free entrance. Water is usually muddy for snorkeling but you can see some stuff anyway

This charming little beach lies along the path to the Darwin Research Center and is free to explore. A small group of sea lions, usually two or three, have claimed it as their hangout, and it’s a delight to watch them lounging and cuddling on the sand. Unlike the lively sea lions on San Cristóbal, these ones are calm and quiet, making the atmosphere especially peaceful. It’s a great spot to take a refreshing dip, stretch out on the sand, and keep an eye out for crabs, marine iguanas, lizards, and seabirds.

Nice little beach with quite good snorkeling and lots of marine iguanas eating on the volcanic rocks.

Good snorkling anf place to see local wildlife

Beautiful and amazing little beach area that is pretty simple to access. I could spend all day sitting here letting the waves hit my feet, relaxing while life just passes by and watching the boats come and go. Every once in a while you with catch a glimpse of a red crab poking out of a rock to eat some algae and a sea bird swooping in to hunt for that same crab. Watching nature play out and happen right in front of you in the most serene and peaceful area there is to be had.

Nice and cozy, somewhat even hidden despite being advertised😃

The Finest Art Gallery on the Island. Prices for unique pieces were between $200-$2000, & they have beautiful items from both local & mainland artists. They have detailed info cards about the artists, & a variety of styles on offer. Worth a visit, even just to look!

Beautiful local goods, and the nicest staff EVER! Definitely stop by if you're heading to/from the park. The artwork, jewelry and crafts are stunning! My mother bought a really neat metal sculpture, and they packaged it up so nicely (in a sturdy box with a gorgeous cord wrapped into an intricate handle system), delivered it to the front desk of our hotel, and this allowed her to avoid a $600 shipping fee ( the Galapagos postal system is expensive!). She simply carried it on to the plane, which was fantastic! Definitely stop in, you won't be disappointed!!

After exploring all of the options for local artwork, we believe this gallery has the most unique and best quality artwork. The pieces are priced accordingly, so this is not the place to find trinkets and souvenirs. But it is the best place to discover a high quality work of local craftsmanship.

They have some nice but severely overpriced art/souvenirs.

Beautiful art, but for a tourist, it is pricey. I guess you can just enjoy stuff there.

Best local art I've seen in the Galapagos. Beautiful creativity, a must see and/or buy.

Good gallery, but a bit over priced. Does have a a good mix of artists from South America.

Impressive natural beach, which gets pretty wild on the main ocean-facing part. The side-beach which is more suitable for swimming is not that impressive though. Towards the end of the "main" beach we got to see plenty sea iguanas. This made the 1 hour walk from the port definitely worth it. Overall, I would consider this a good option for a free activity on Santa Cruz.

We took a scenic 45-minute hike from where we were staying, and the path was smooth and easy to follow. The walk was well worth it, as it opened up to a stunning beach with soft white sand and turquoise water. The first stretch of beach is gorgeous to admire, but it has strong riptides so swimming isn’t recommended. If you continue down a bit farther, you’ll reach a second beach where it’s safe to swim and snorkel, and there’s even a small stand for kayak rentals. We rented snorkel gear for about $5 and saw wetsuit rentals ranging between $5–$10. The day we visited, the water had poor visibility, but it was still exciting to spot reef sharks gliding through the mangroves. With clearer conditions, this would be an incredible spot for snorkeling. Along the way, we spotted some sleepy sea lions stretched out on the sand, and a variety of other interesting birds. A blue-footed booby was even spotted. Even without perfect snorkeling conditions, the wildlife and scenery made this hike and beach visit unforgettable.

You walk far in the heat to the swimming area, and the little cove is so packed full of people. We tried to swim just outside the cove and other people too and the rangers would call us out and say we can’t swim there because the currents, we said we are fine and not going far but they said we aren’t allowed to swim anywhere but the little cove. It was very unpleasant and not worth the long walk in the heat for nowhere to swim. One ranger told us that if we went into the middle of the beach far from any rangers we could swim. So nothing was making sense and we just left. Around the corner is more place to swim but the water is brown and again so many people, but the water although not wavy was very dirty looking and no way you would be able to see anything snorkeling. But it was still a very beautiful beach.

Gorgeous beach! There are no amenities at out so bring what you need. You can get to it by taking a $10 per person water taxi from the malécon or by walking for 30 minutes down a well defined path. Beach closes at 6pm because of sunset so be prepared to leave by 4:30. The last water taxi leaves at 5 at the latest. There are a variety of birds and marine iguanas on the beach by the rocks. The other side of this beach has a smaller beach suitable for swimming. This beach is more for surfing.

One of the nicest beaches, you can get here by boat or walk to it, its about 3.5 km from the harbour. The biggest part is rough to swim, but continue and you will reach a quiet piece in a big bay where the water is calm and much warmer. Lots of trees to find some shade, watch of for the flies who sting.

October 25.2025 Probably the only land based beach you can walk to in Santa Cruz. Cost: Free Facilities: Very nice washrooms at the conservation center (no clean water to buy), otherwise, the beach area has no facilities of any kind. Time from main harbor: 40mins-1 hr You sign in at the conservation center (name, email, country of origin, ID not required). They will let you know where you can swim and where you cannot swim. Then you walk down a beautiful cobble stone walkway all the way to the beach, there are a few small hills, and rest stops and shady areas are plenty. The turtle nesting areas are off limits, though you may see some patches they use from the border. *WARNING* There is absolutely no shade at the beach (maybe a few tiny spots), so you will be in direct sunlight the entire time. Sun stroke is no joke, protect yourself and bring lots of sun protection and water. Remember, it is about 1.5 hrs rountrip walk, so factor that in. The current advisory was red today (not safe to swim). Few surfers around though, can't comment on the reefs and banks though.

Best beach i've been to. Stunning views, with white sand and clear water.

This is a great little store in Santa Cruz, Galapagos. Juan has done a great job curating handmade and local products. Definitely worth a stop in. Highly recommended.

The best handcrafts and local products Store in Santa Cruz, Galápagos. I recommend the Oil from the Fruit of Palo Santo Trees (this product comes from the fruit of palo santo tree, so it does not harm this beautiful endemic tree of Ecuador). This essential oil is a NATURAL analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic. You can find this product HERE! You will love it.

so many beautiful items. I had to come back several times to see it all. bought some gorgeous silver earrings and delicious Ecuadorian chocolate there.

Wonderful selection of ethical, sustainable products supporting local business

Nice products, great customer service!

Great place to buy ethnic handcrafts and urban art!!

Juan is super friendly, with lots of time to explain the craft behind the exotic items for sale. I bought a pair of Moshi boots with funky fun fabric design and I’m going back to get a belt to match. Hard to beat prices for designer goods.

absolutely incredible and enlightening and I highly recommend coming down. My only event that was out of the ordinary when some finches came up to me and my wife and asked us to write a 5 page essay on the differentiation of species among island finches. I was quite intrigued. Again, very fun island.

This island is a great example of Darwin's finches. Amazing how they have adapted over the generations to not only survive, but thrive in this exotic island environment.

finch refuse to mate with me. but it was fun i snorkel and swim and run around until the morning come

I got bit by 13 different species of birds

There were no Marine Iguana or Pugs.... :( but bird good good good.

Spectacular old volcano well worth an aerial tour

It was ok but the finch is a little chewy