9 Top Self-Guided Activities in the Galapagos

1. Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz

For us, Santa Cruz was a must visit island. You only have to arrive at the port and you will instantly see marine iguanas, rays (marbled, golden cow head & eagle), juvenile reef sharks, pelicans, blue footed boobies, sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs and frigate birds without even leaving the pier. At night the lights at the pier make it even easier to spot the marine life.

The standout on this island was Tortuga Bay with its long stretch of perfect white sand beach. We recommend visiting at low tide as there are minimal waves and you can lounge in the water. Iguanas, sharks, rays, pelicans & other sea birds can be found also enjoying what the beach has to offer.

If you walk to the end of the beach, there’s a short trail that leads to another amazing beach surrounded by mangroves and free of waves. If you walk through the cactus forest you will find a secluded spot where you can jump off the rocks into the ocean.

2. Cycling around Puerto Villamil, Isabella

Cycling is a great way to see the sights around Puerto Villamil. From the edge of town, there is a 6km track that heads west with several stops along the way at beaches, viewpoints and lakes. You can only drive to the national park entrance which is just before La Playita and after this the points of interest are only accessible by bicycle or foot.

The first stop is at the edge of town, where there is a boardwalk that crosses several lakes filled with water birds including flamingos. If you haven’t had your fill of Galapagos tortoises yet, you can cycle further on to the tortoise breeding centre.

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Our favourite stop was El Estero. It’s important you visit this stop at low tide when you can relax in the shallow, waveless water and meander through the mangroves out to the ocean. We were lucky enough to have a sea lion swim in and play with us. I was unlucky enough to be bitten many times by horse flies which seem to come hand in hand with mangroves in the Galapagos. Tortoises can be found at any point along the trail.

The second last stop before the Wall of Tears is Cerro Orchilla, which is a lookout point over Puerto Villamil and its surrounds. By this point I was entirely exhausted.

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Bicycles cost $15 for a full day and we paid an extra $5 for a box on the back of ours to carry the camera equipment. Mountain bikes are available for $5 extra. There are no shops along the way so you need to pack lots of water and snacks.

3. Snorkelling at Concha de Perla, Isabella

Concha de Perla is a sheltered lagoon surrounded by volcanic rock, just adjacent to the port at Puerto Villamil. The edge of the lagoon is actually a reef with a unique ecosystem so it’s important not to stand on the rocks.

We were able to snorkel with penguins, iguanas and sea lions at this location. Another highlight was swimming through a cloud of shrimp. Even though there was a sea horse on our map, Clinton couldn’t find any despite hours of searching. A local guide advised me that they reside in deeper, colder water and are difficult to find.

We advise visiting around low tide, when the water is shallow and calm. Low tide also allows for better visibility and ensures you don’t have to dive to see the marine life on the rocks.

The entrance to Concha Perla is well signed, just adjacent to where you exit the boat when you arrive on the island. We made the mistake of taking an early unmarked left turn after a hot walk from town, only to be accosted by angry dogs.

4. El Chato Tortoise Reserve, Santa Cruz

El Chato Tortoise Reserve is in the highlands of Santa Cruz. Here you will find innumerable tortoises in their natural habitat, roaming freely. The tortoises here are by far the largest we saw anywhere on the islands. It’s a strange feeling to know that many of them are more than three times our age and older than any human on the planet.

It’s important to note that if you get too close to the tortoises they will become scared and quickly retract into their shell. There are also some lava tunnels on the property which make for some creepy photos.

Entry is $5 and they give you gumboots (so take some socks) and free locally grown brewed coffee. It rains almost daily in the highlands, so you should take a raincoat +/- umbrella. We did not bring either of these two rain avoidance devices and ended up muy húmido (very moist).

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You can reach the reserve by taxi, which is $40 USD for the 42km roundtrip. If you’re extremely fit you could consider cycling (it’s mostly uphill) and we even saw two people arrive on e-scooters, although I’m not sure how safe these are in the rain. Also bear in mind the last few hundred meters to the reserve is a dirt track.

5. Puerto Chino & El Junco Lake, San Cristobal

Puerto Chino is a white sand beach at the south of San Cristobal, 25km from the main town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. You can cycle there if you’re willing to brave the ascent into the highlands, or otherwise it’s a $60 taxi ride for up to 4 people. It includes stops at El Junco Lake and the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado tortoise sanctuary. El Junco is a freshwater lake frequented by frigate birds cleaning their feathers.

6. Playa Mann & Mirador Cerro Tijeretas, San Cristobal

Playa Mann is one of the local beaches on San Cristobal and is only a short walk from the port. Here you can swim with sea lions. Unlike many other beaches in Galapagos, there are shaded areas under the trees and a small store where you can purchase snacks and beverages, making it easy to spend a whole day lounging around.

Across the road is the entrance to the national park, via the Centro de Interpretacion. There is no fee. Follow the walking trail to Mirador Cerro Tijeretas, which is a viewpoint over the beach and a frigate bird nesting area. In the mating season you should be able to see the male frigate birds displaying their red throat pouch as part of a courtship display. Walk back down the hill and you will reach Muelle Tijeretas, a swimming spot. The track is a circuit which eventually takes you back to Playa Mann.

7. Laguna las Ninfas, Santa Cruz

Laguna las Ninfas is a quaint boardwalk through the mangroves, free of charge and only a 5 minute walk from the centre of Santa Cruz. It’s a great place to relax and spot wildlife including birds and marine animals at low tide.

8. Charles Darwin Research Centre & Playa de la Estacion

The Charles Darwin Research Centre is run on donations and can be reached by foot. Here you can learn more about the history and conservation of the Galapagos Islands, and also see newly hatched baby tortoises. Baby tortoises are never found in the wild, as all eggs are collected and hatched in breeding centres to avoid predation by introduced species.

Adjacent to the research centre is Playa de la Estacion, a small sandy beach surrounded by lava rocks that looks over Puerto Ayora. It is popular with locals and is a nice place for a nap.

9. Las Grietas, Santa Cruz

Las Grietas is a volcanic fissure fed by the ocean where you can swim and snorkel for free. It is home to some very large parrot fish which swam in as babies and are now trapped in the fissure. Visiting at high tide is better as you can swim further down the fissure without scrambling over rocks. Our favourite part was actually the walk along the edge of the chasm, which has views over Puerto Ayora.

The walk to Las Grietas is also very nice and includes passing by German Beach, which is best visited at low tide. To reach the area you have to take an 80c water taxi ride from the pier and then follow the signs. It’s about a 30 minute walk. Las Grietas was crowded and there were no lockers, so you should avoid taking anything important if you plan to swim.