Cheap things to do at Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos

Yes I know, everything is so freakin’ expensive at the Galapagos Islands. Annoying right? Well.. that’s why it’s good to know that there are actually also a lot of things to do for the ones with a small budget! Here are some cheap adventures to go for on Isla Santa Cruz; the main island and biggest hub within the Galapagos Islands. 

(And for our best pictures of the Galapagos, click here, or here, or even better here! More into underwater footage? Then this is definitely your page!)

Las Grietas (free – 2,5 hours at least)

This place is by far the best gem of Isla Santa Cruz. With such high temperatures sometimes in Puerto Ayora, it’s a great idea to visit Las Grietas for a fresh jump in this natural, rocky swimming pool. The pool is hidden in a curved canyon in the cliff side and features some superclear water. The attraction is about a 15 minute walk from Finch Bay, where you can get by taxi boat for $0,80. The walk towards the site is very pretty too, with a lot of finches and iguanas accompanying you. 

It’s best to get there early before the crowds arrive, since it can get very busy on the little pier, especially in the weekends. Getting there early also means that you can see the place being engulfed in sun light and the water becoming clearer. Don’t forget to bring your snorkel gear, there are plenty of amazing fish and rock formations under that cool, clear water to explore. Don’t take to much valuable stuff with you as you have to leave all of your belongings on the rocks if you want to go into the water.

Tortoise center El Chato ($3,- entrance fee – about 2 hours )

Do you like to see dozens of tortoises doing what they do? Visit the El Chato reserve in the highlands north of Puerto Ayora to come up close with land turtles in their natural habitat. The reserve allows you to roam the property at your leisure. It’s really amazing to see those big fellows walking around under the trees and in the fields, interacting with one another, taking mud baths, eating, and mating – turtle babies yeah!-. All in all, what’s not to like about these armoured plated, graceful and slow – tough a times with a turn of speed- creatures. 

At El Chato you can also see the Lava Tunnels, which are fun but not as impressive as they sound like. Just take them as a bonus.

There are several ways to get to the reserve. A taxi round trip will cost you $35,- to $40,-. Perhaps you can split it, with people who come along or need to go to the airport. In the morning you can also take the bus going to the airport and ask the driver to drop you at the village where the entrance to El Chato is. Third option is for the sporty spices: rent a bicycle and ride all the way up here.

Staring at the sea lions and marine iguanas 

In between the tours and boat trips we had a couple of hours of waiting. No biggie, since in the harbour itself you can find some wildlife too. Gaze at the sleeping sea lions – that are spread around everywhere -, come up close with a freaky marine iguana, or spot some sharks from the dock. 

Charles Darwin Research Station (free – 2 hours) 

It almost feels like you cannot fully appreciate what the Galapagos is all about, and what work is being done to protect the islands and the iconic wildlife that live there for humans, until you spend some time at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

The center is a 15 minute walk from town and situated right next to the National Park and is open from 8am to 6pm. The admission is a suggested donation of $3,-, made at the park gift shop and visitors center, that goes to the research and work that is done at the center. 

The Darwin center gives a good presentation about how important it is to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos. We learned about invasive species brought to the islands by humans that have done great damage to some extinct or nearly extinct species and how researchers try to counteract those actions. 

Major attractions include an excellent display with wonderful murals about the ocean life, a whale skeleton, and a separate display to celebrate the life of Lonesome George, complete with taxidermic mounting of the famous reptile, which is a bit weird honestly. There is an opportunity to view several enclosures of giant tortoises and land iguanas, showing specimens from several different islands and how the varieties differ, and a nice section on Galapagos endemic plants.

I’d does not matter if you are a child or an adult, you will enjoy spending a couple of hours at the Research Station and looking at the amazing tortoises in every stage of their development. 

Fish market (free – 10 minutes) 

If you have a couple of minutes left, on your way back to town from the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll walk by a fun fish market. From there it’s only a five minute walk to the harbour. Don’t expect anything big, it’s just a small area, and though there aren’t that many men working at the market, there surely are a lot of albatrosses, marine iguanas and sea lions around! Because of their presence, the filing of the fish is a real show. The sea lions look like begging dogs, standing next to the fishes, waiting for their snack.

The market is open from 4 pm to 9pm. 

Dinner time!

Hungry now you’ve seen all those fishes? There’s a splendid food market a bit up the road – as seen from the port – at Charles Bingford between Avenue Baltra and Isla Plaza. The atmosphere in this street is very busy yet cozy. Walk around a bit a sit down a what place smells the best to your opinion. Often you can pay as little as $3, – for a ‘Menú del día’. This includes a soup and a simple fish dish. Vegetarian options are available too. Even if you had to eat here for a week, it wouldn’t bore you. Plus you won’t get cheaper food anywhere in town, that’s for sure!