Puerto Ayora with Kids

October 31, 2026

Easy outings and longer ones

Travelling with children in Puerto Ayora works best when you sort the options by effort. Some are short and close to town, and others involve a long walk in strong equatorial sun. This page ranks them from easiest to hardest. The activities are about wildlife and the sea. Costs are in US dollars.

Easiest: the research station and waterfront

The Charles Darwin Research Station is free to enter and open daily from 08:00 to 18:00. Children can see whale skeletons and natural history collections in the exhibition hall. The Fausto Llerena Breeding Center next door is a guided stop on the Tortoise Route, about USD 10 with a guide, until 16:45. Young tortoises are raised there, and the trail also leads to the exhibit for Lonesome George, so keep the visit calm.

Walk back along Avenida Charles Darwin to the fish market. Fishermen fillet the catch in the open air while pelicans and sea lions gather, a free show for kids. Opening hours vary, so check them in advance.

Moderate: a boat ride and the highlands

A glass-bottom or bay boat tour with a licensed operator is a gentle first trip on the water.

In the highlands, El Chato and Rancho Primicias are 30 to 45 minutes by road. Children can walk in a lava tunnel and see wild tortoises crossing the paths. Entry is about USD 10 each with a guide, and there is no need to reserve. Tell children before you go that they must stay 2 m from every tortoise and not touch them.

Hardest: Tortuga Bay

The path is a paved 2.5 km each way, with no road. Allow 30 to 45 minutes in each direction, plus time on the sand. A water taxi from the pier costs about USD 10 each way and spares small legs the walk. Sign in at the booth by the trailhead.

Stay out of the water at Playa Brava, the first beach, where rip currents run and only surfers go in. Playa Mansa, about 20 minutes beyond, has calm, shallow water, and an adult should stay within arm’s reach of every child. Bring water, hats and reef-safe sunscreen.

Park entry fees for children

The park charges at the island airport in cash. Foreign children under 12 currently pay USD 100, children from Andean Community and Mercosur countries under 12 pay USD 50, and children under 2 are free. Foreign children over 12 pay the adult rate of USD 200. Check the park’s official schedule and child entry rules before you travel.

Good to know

Boats and speedboats can be rough, so carry seasickness tablets for trips between islands.
All protected visitor sites need a naturalist guide.
Check current government advice before travelling. The islands lie outside the mainland areas named in UK advice for Ecuador .

Sources: Charles Darwin Foundation and the Park Directorate . Browse family tours on Viator .