Galapagos sites to know by your self
Places Accessible by Walking, Bicycles, and Taxis
There are many places you can visit on your own, starting from islands such as Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isabela. Below are some of the main attractions you can explore independently.
Santa Cruz Island
Tortuga Bay
One hour walking from hotel areas of Puerto Ayora, this site features a beautiful 1 km stretch of white sand beach, a place where you can surf, but it also has a bay with calm waters where you can see large groups of marine iguanas. You can swim, snorkel, and kayak around the calm bay to see sea turtles, schools of eagle rays, and reef sharks. Many visitors on the way back from the beach to Puerto Ayora take the boat by themselves directly for $10 per person.
Las Grietas
This place is easy to access; just take a water taxi from the main dock of Puerto Ayora and pay $1 per person one way. This site is open 24 hours a day. It is like a natural pool with water in the middle of a rock fissure. The water here is a mixture of fresh water that comes down from the mountains and sea water that enters through small cracks between the rocks. This pool houses different types of fish and is ideal for snorkeling so you can see the rock formations under the water.
Charles Darwin Station
This place is approximately a 20-minute walk from the hotel area of Puerto Ayora. Here, you can observe different types of tortoises, as each tortoise varies depending on the island or habitat in which it lives. In Galápagos, there are currently 12 different types of tortoises, from newborns to those 3 or 4 years old, which are returned to their natural habitat. You can also visit a museum showcasing skeletons of many species, both terrestrial and marine, that exist in the Islands. Additionally, close to the Charles Darwin Station, there are some beaches you can visit for swimming and enjoying the waterfront.
Highlands Primicias / Chato Reserve
This is the best place to observe giant tortoises living in their natural habitat, along with birds such as Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, and a rich forest of endemic vegetation.
San Cristóbal Island
Galapaguera
This place is located about 15 minutes walking from the area of the hotels of Puerto Baquerizo. On the way to Tijeretas, you can visit the interpretation center of the islands and also Carola beach, which has golden sand. Tijeretas is a good place for pictures and snorkeling with friendly sea lions.
Tijeretas
It is located approximately 10 – 15 minutes by car from the hotel area. In La Loberia, you can see a landscape of waves breaking on the coast. It is also a good place to snorkel with sea lions, sea turtles, and various fish.
Laguna el Junco
This lagoon is 19 km or 30 minutes by taxi. It is a freshwater lagoon in the middle of a crater, formed by rain since it is in the upper area of Cristóbal Island. This place is excellent for observing frigatebirds flying in the area. A very good place to visit by taxi or bicycle; Junco is the name of a common bird in that area, hence its name.
Additionally, the entire coast that borders Puerto Baquerizo is full of sea lions, so it is not at all strange to see them along the main street of Puerto Baquerizo.
Isabela Island
Isabela Island is located to the southwest of the archipelago. It is the largest island in territory but has a population of around 8 million people. Its infrastructure is not very aggressive in terms of construction, and it features a 2 km beach with the town in front, creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
Concha Perla
This site is about 5 -10 minutes walking from the main pier of Isabela. It is considered the best snorkeling spot among the attractions you can visit on your own, where you can see rays, starfish, and different types of shells or oysters. It is also common to see sea lions while snorkeling. The ideal time to visit is early in the morning to enjoy the calm waters; however, the site is beautiful at all times.
Wall of Tears
This site is located 3 km from the populated area. It is very good to visit by bicycle since you can make several stops to enjoy beautiful landscapes and viewpoints, as well as a lagoon to see flamingos.