Islas Galapagos and Puerto Ayora’s living laboratory
Published on 08/25/2026 at 06:39 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Islas Galapagos, better known in English as the Galapagos Islands, form a remote Pacific archipelago of volcanic islands, with Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island as their busiest port town. Scattered across the equator and belonging to Ecuador, the islands are a protected province where human settlement such as Puerto Ayora sits alongside national park and marine reserve.
Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island
Puerto Ayora stands on the southern coast of Santa Cruz Island, facing Academy Bay and forming the main harbour for small boats, ferries and tour vessels.Puerto Ayora stands on the southern coast The town is named for Isidro Ayora, an Ecuadorian president, and serves as the seat of Santa Cruz Canton within Galapagos Province.named for Isidro Ayora
Low-rise buildings line the waterfront and the streets behind it, with Avenida Charles Darwin tracing the curve of the bay and linking small piers, shops and accommodation to residential quarters further inland.Located on the southern coast of the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz From the harbour, water taxis and excursion boats fan out into the wider archipelago, while inland roads climb gently towards the island’s higher, greener interior.
A town framed by national park and sea
Santa Cruz Island itself is part of the Galapagos National Park, with Puerto Ayora occupying a strip of land between the Pacific and the protected highlands of this volcanic island.Puerto Ayora, located on the southern end of Santa Cruz Island Dark volcanic rock, pale sand coves and patches of dry shrubland surround the town, while the central highlands of Santa Cruz rise into cooler, cloudier country where giant tortoises browse among pasture and woodland.
Within a short reach of Puerto Ayora, walking paths and boat rides lead to beaches, mangroves and lava formations where marine iguanas, sea lions and birdlife are part of daily scenery rather than distant sights.A guide to Puerto Ayora The town’s position on Academy Bay gives clear views across the sheltered water to low, dark headlands and further islands on the horizon, underlining how closely settlement and wilderness sit together in Islas Galapagos.
Charles Darwin Research Station and conservation work
On the eastern edge of Puerto Ayora, along Avenida Charles Darwin, the Charles Darwin Research Station forms a compact scientific campus between the town and the rocky shoreline of Academy Bay.the Charles Darwin Research Station is the scientific research campus Operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation, which was founded in 1959, the station focuses on research and conservation across the Galapagos Islands.operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation
Inside the grounds, paths link laboratories, shaded courtyards and enclosures where visitors can see giant tortoises and learn about breeding programmes and habitat restoration across the archipelago.giant tortoises and conservation efforts Exhibition spaces explain how isolation, volcanic landscapes and ocean currents shaped the flora and fauna of Islas Galapagos, placing Puerto Ayora’s working harbour within a wider conservation story.
Visiting Islas Galapagos: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Islas Galapagos lie in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador, with Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island linked to Baltra Island’s airport by a short sea crossing and road across Santa Cruz.
- The ground around Puerto Ayora includes paved streets, uneven volcanic rock and coastal paths, and some routes to viewpoints or beaches involve walking over rough lava and sand.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the United States dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Islas Galapagos
Where are Islas Galapagos and Puerto Ayora?
Islas Galapagos form an Ecuadorian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, and Puerto Ayora lies on the southern coast of Santa Cruz Island within this group.
What can visitors expect in Puerto Ayora?
Visitors encounter a small harbour town with low-rise streets, coastal paths and nearby access to beaches, lava landscapes and conservation sites such as the Charles Darwin Research Station.
What makes Islas Galapagos distinctive?
The combination of volcanic islands, endemic wildlife and a working research hub in Puerto Ayora, embedded within a protected national park and marine reserve, defines Islas Galapagos.
