A Brief Tale of Two of the Biggest Cities in Galapagos: Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in Galapagos

Written by Christopher Klassen

Reading time: 2 minutes

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and Puerto Ayora are the two largest cities in the Galapagos. The enormous archipelago is made up of 4 total inhabited regions spread throughout 98% of the national park territory. The remaining 3% is devoted to other uses. In this case, the term “city” is more of a misnomer because these are arguably better described as tiny harbor towns. In this blog post, we want to share information about two of the archipelago’s most advanced cities.

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PUERTO AYORA, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The principal settlement of Santa Cruz Island is Puerto Ayora, named for Ecuadorian President Isidro Ayora. With more than 12,000 residents and some of the best infrastructure in the archipelago, it is one of the most populous and cosmopolitan locations. This significant port town has several banks, schools, hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and shops. Puerto Ayora might be the finest site for many visitors to the Galapagos to get in touch with the outside world.

The View From Puerto Ayora's Port In The Galapagos — The View From Puerto Ayora’S Port.

The only hyperbaric chamber in the archipelago is in Puerto Ayora’s relatively new hospital, built in 2006.

The “boardwalk” of Puerto Ayora spans the length of the aptly called Charles Darwin Avenue, which begins at the docks and extends along Academy Bay to the Charles Darwin Research Station. From there, you can take a shortcut of the bay to get to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel. The Santa Cruz Island Fish Market is one of the many sights, passing animals, and locations to see along the route.

Tortuga Bay, A Highlight Of Santa Cruz Island. — Tortuga Bay Is One Of The Highlights Of Santa Cruz Island.

Tortuga Bay, one of the top ten beaches in the world, is one of Puerto Ayora’s most notable neighboring attractions! Several unique species can be seen here, including birds, crabs, marine iguanas, and the abundance of mangroves, which occasionally cover living treasures like white-tip reef sharks and giant tortoises.

PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO, SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: THE SECOND-LARGEST CITY IN GALAPAGOS

Located on San Cristobal Island’s southern shore, the capital of the Galapagos Islands has an allure all its own. With an estimated 7,000 residents, the island is home to one of the second-largest cities in the Galapagos after Puerto Ayora while maintaining its “small-town vibe.” Although most of the population is fishermen, tourism is growing and contributes significantly to the city’s economy. The town is unique because of its lovely shoreline and laid-back island lifestyle. Sea lions make up a significant component of the population.

A part of the boardwalk at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.Since 1988, the Galapagos National Park Interpretation Center has been in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. In addition, the community of San Cristobal has its airport and a museum dedicated to natural history. The town, which was established in the middle of the 1800s, is among the oldest communities in the entire archipelago and serves as the governor’s official residence.