Puerto Ayora (Academy Bay) - General Info

Description:

The hub of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora (Admiralty Bay) is the largest town and the main tourist center, with a wide range of hotels, restaurants, shops and internet cafes. Puerto Ayora has the best options for chandlery and repairs.

Entrance Notes and Cautions:

Academy Bay is open to the trade winds from the south-east, which is the direction of the prevailing winds, but these rarely blow with any strength and even at the height of the south-east trade wind season, between June and the end of August, the anchorage is bearable.

This is only one of four available yacht anchorages in the Galapagos.  Most of the anchorage is taken up with local boats and mini-cruise ships.

Beware of the colony of sea lions in Puerto Ayora - they may climb aboard unless you have some defensive measures in place.  See this report from SV Hawkeye for some helpful information.

• Galapagos:  Enchanting Islands and Intriguing Sea Lions

Cruiser Highlights:

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, see the giant Galapagos turtles, swim with hammerhead sharks and marine iguanas, visit the volcano tunnels and the old caldera.  An excellent chandlery about a 10 minute walk from the quay.  Fresh food market on Saturdays in town and a well-stocked supermarket on the quay.

Position:  00° 44.9'S, 90° 18.43'W (anchorage)

Last updated:  February 2024