Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal Island)
#9 in Best Things To Do in Galapagos Islands
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- 5.0Value
- 4.0Food Scene
- 3.5Atmosphere
Situated on San Cristóbal Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno – the province's capital – offers easy access to attractions like Frigatebird Hill (where you can hike and bird-watch) and Kicker Rock (a rock formation that stands 460 feet tall). Some of the island's best surfing beaches (think: La Loberia and Punta Carola) also sit nearby, and within town limits, you'll find a plethora of eateries, shops and hotels.
Visitors say Puerto Baquerizo Moreno's Kicker Rock is a "must-see" that's great to snap photos of and snorkel around. However, some bemoaned the area's chilly and rough water. To get to Kicker Rock, you'll need to sign up for a tour with companies like Nature Galapagos & Ecuador and Andando Tours. Other locales like Frigatebird Hill and the island's beaches are included in select tour itineraries, or you can check them out without a guide for free.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is located on the western end of San Cristóbal Island, where you'll find the island's airport and ferry terminal. The town is small enough to walk around, but to reach farther locales on the island, you can travel by bike or taxi. Even though Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is free to visit, you'll want to bring some money to pay for meals, transportation and souvenirs.
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2 of 10#1 Tortuga Bay (Santa Cruz Island)
Outdoorsy types don't flock to these two white sand beaches simply to bake in the warm equatorial sun. Travelers visit this isolated strip of Santa Cruz Island's southern coastline for some quality face time with the Galápagos' marine turtles. If you visit between January and February, you may even catch sight of the black turtles laying their eggs (hatchlings emerge and make their way to the sea between April and May). Even if you're not a turtle-lover, you can still get up close and personal with the other beach combers like marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs.
While most recent travelers describe their visits to Tortuga Bay as a highlight of their trips, some do caution that it can feel like quite a trek to get there from Puerto Ayora, especially in the hot sun. Also, remember that the beach closest to the bay's entrance (Playa Brava) has strong currents, so it's not suitable for swimming. If you want to swim, continue walking to the bay's other beach (Playa Mansa).
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