Puerto Ayora - City of Ecuador

Puerto Ayora is a town in central Galápagos, Ecuador. Located on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island, and it is the seat of Santa Cruz Canton. Named after Isidro Ayora, an Ecuadorian president. The town is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Santa Cruz.

Puerto Ayora is the most populated town in the Galapagos Islands. For many people Santa Cruz may be the only inhabited island they visit while in Galapagos. It has the best developed infrastructure in the archipelago. The largest of the two banks in Galapagos is located here. A variety of schools, hotels, restaurants, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocery stores, marine stores tourist shops and night clubs here. It is the best place in Galapagos for communicating with the outside world via numerous cybercafes with Internet access or phone offices where you are able to call anywhere in the world.

Home to both the Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park, it is headquarters of Galapagos conservation efforts. Most visitors to the Galapagos will have a scheduled visit to Puerto Ayora in order to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the history of the islands and the future conservation.

Academy Bay located in front of Puerto Ayora is a busy harbor, normally full of boats cruising the islands, passing private yachts and local fishing boats. This bay is a good location to spot brown pelicans, golden rays, marine iguanas, herons, lava gulls, frigate birds, Galapagos sea lions, and large numbers of blue-footed boobies, which fish by spectacular plunge diving.

It is important to note that fresh water is at a premium on the island and in this town. Locals practice water conservation and typically collect rainwater during the rainy season. As well, there is a desalination plant on the island. Many facilities have separate water systems with varying degrees of use/quality. For example, water used for cleaning/showering may not be potable. Visitors need to check with owners of various facilities with regards to water usage.