Walking Routes in Puerto Ayora

October 31, 2026

Routes sorted by effort

Walking in Puerto Ayora means choosing between a flat stroll along the harbour and a long beach hike. Some walks you can do alone, and others need a guide. The routes below go from easiest to most demanding. Costs are in US dollars.

Easy: the harbour front

Start at the municipal pier and follow Avenida Charles Darwin east to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Along the way the Pelican Bay fish market is an open-air spot where fishermen clean the catch and pelicans and sea lions wait nearby. At the end, the station’s exhibition hall is free between 08:00 and 18:00 daily.

Easy with a guide: the Tortoise Route

Beside the station, the Tortoise Route enters the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, a Park Directorate site. It runs 08:00 to 16:45 and costs about USD 10 with a guide. The trail reaches the exhibit room where Lonesome George’s preserved remains are displayed.

Medium: Playa de los Alemanes and Las Grietas

Take a short water taxi from the pier (USD 1 to 2) to the far side of the harbour. Playa de los Alemanes is a free beach on the way. Continue on foot for 15 to 20 minutes to Las Grietas. The final stretch is a guided visit at about USD 10, and the whole outing takes roughly 1.5 hours.

Medium to long: the Tortuga Bay path

This is the only self-guided long walk. The paved stone trail is about 2.5 km and takes 30 to 45 minutes one way. Sign in at the park booth before you start and out when you return. The beach is open from about 06:00 to 18:00 and can close early if the sea is rough.

The first beach is Playa Brava, where rip currents make swimming unsafe. Playa Mansa lies about 20 minutes further along the sand, or you can reach it by a mangrove path. Neither vehicles nor bicycles are allowed on the route, and there is no bus.

Guided in the highlands: El Chato and Rancho Primicias

Both reserves are 30 to 45 minutes from town on the road to Santa Rosa. A guide leads you across land where wild tortoises move freely and into a lava tunnel. Entry is about USD 10 per person and the reserves are open from roughly 08:00 to 17:30. Rain leaves the paths muddy, and boots are often lent. You must stay 2 m from the tortoises.

Packing list

Water, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen
Closed shoes for muddy paths
Small US bills for water taxis and reserves
A swimsuit for Playa Mansa only

Rules on foot

Keep single-use plastics out of protected areas, and do not use flash. 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 rules . Find a guide on GetYourGuide .