For the longest time, the Galapagos Islands have been on my bucket list. And what traveler wouldn’t want to visit a group of islands populated by fearless sea lions, brightly-colored birds, marine iguanas, and all sorts of ocean life? So when we had the opportunity to visit San Cristobal Island through Exoticca, I knew we had to go!
I can still remember some of the amazing photos and videos I saw of the Galapagos Islands as a child. Most of us were probably exposed to the incredible creatures there during a science class. After all, this area is home to so many animals that don’t exist anywhere else in the world.
But while the Galapagos Islands may sound magical, they can also sound unobtainable. At least, that’s how I felt anytime I heard about them growing up. “They’re so far away and protected–they must be impossible to visit.” How wrong I was!
The Galapagos Islands are closer than you think…
If you didn’t know, the Galapagos Islands aren’t located in some remote, barely reachable part of the earth. They’re actually just off the coast of Ecuador in South America! And while the only access airport to the islands is in Guayaquil, Ecuador, it only takes 4 to 5 hours to reach the city from Florida and another two to zip over to the Galapagos Islands. Not too bad after all!
We had the privilege of spending several days on the beautiful island of San Cristobal, which is in the easternmost part of the Galapagos. It’s home to the second-largest population of people on the islands, as well as a plethora of amazing creatures.
So how do you spend the ultimate day in this little slice of paradise? Keep reading to find out!
The Ultimate Day on San Cristobal
6:30 A.M. Sea Lion and Blue-Footed Booby Spotting
I know it may be hard, but try to wake up early and head down to the Malecon San Cristobal to see the adorable sea lions flopped out on Playa de los Lobos. You’ll see lots of cute little guys snuggled up with their mommas while others are already up and splashing around in the waves. The young ones are especially cute this time of morning, and you can spot quite a few of them playing with each other.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of sea lions in this hotspot, keep wandering down this street (left if you’re facing the ocean) toward Playa de los Marinos. You’ll see plenty more sea lions chilling on the beaches or finding their beauty rest on top of overturned boats! Just note they do NOT like to be disturbed (even with you talking too loud), and never try to touch them.
When you reach the fork in the road, turn right onto Av. de la Armada Nacional, and you’ll see a cute cafe called Sunrise & Coffee, right next to a surprisingly open naval station. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to spot some blue-footed boobies nesting on the rocks below the cafe or starting their early-morning hunts in the bay!
7:00 A.M. Grab Breakfast in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
You’ll be doing a lot today, so be sure to grab a good breakfast. Sunrise & Coffee has good reviews, but we personally loved the Super Samy Panneria and Kachi Tanta Bakery further back in town. You’ll find both near the intersection of Avenida 12 de Febrero and Avenida Alsacio Northia. It’s a bit of a trek back into town, but totally worth these tasty carbs!
Super Samy has a delicious selection of fresh-made bread loaves, rolls, and sweet bread, and you can load up a huge bag for less than $2. Kachi Tanta Bakery has a much wider selection of specialty items, especially pastries (both breakfast and dessert styles) and fresh coffee.
8:00 A.M. Exploration and Snorkeling at La Loberia
With your stomach full, grab your car (or a bike) and head to La Loberia for some prime beach time and snorkeling. This gorgeous coastal area is full of all sorts of marine life, both on land and in the water!
As you walk down the path toward the main beach, you’ll see a wide band of black volcanic rock lining the shores. It’s such a cool sight, but don’t forget to watch the path in front of you! There’s an almost guaranteed chance to see finches, brightly-colored lava lizards, and, my favorite, black marine iguanas!
These amazing iguanas only exist in the Galapagos Islands and have the ability to drastically shrink their body size to survive during droughts! You’ll likely see large colonies of them basking on the sand, but they also enjoy spending time on the black volcanic boulders, where they blend in.
But this is just scratching the surface of La Loberia! Keep walking until you clear the rocky border and reach the sandy bay. This is another hot spot for sea lions, so watch your step (for live sea lions and what they leave behind), and stake out a spot to drop your bags and get your snorkeling gear out!
The shallows can be a bit rocky, so be sure to bring water shoes if you don’t have on fins. But once you get in past your knees, forget walking and start snorkeling! This area is thriving with sea life, and it’s a fantastic spot to see not only tropical fish but also sea turtles! We saw at least 4 sea turtles in a variety of sizes in just 90 minutes here.
If you need a break from snorkeling, enjoy the sandy beach while you watch the waves and the sea lions nearby. They are not shy, so be sure to keep your distance but don’t be surprised if they approach you!
11:00 A.M. Grab Lunch in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Once you’ve had your fill of snorkeling, head back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for lunch. In my experience, the boardwalk was geared too much toward tourists, and the prices were high, while the food was lackluster. So I recommend skipping the boardwalk and eating a traditional meal at Picanteria Sarita.
This cute little restaurant has a limited menu, but they have it down to an art. We ate there twice and brought our tour group back the second time. Meals are just six dollars each, and you’ll get a delicious spread consisting of two plates of food with more than you can probably eat.
1 P.M. See the Giant Tortoise Reserve on San Cristobal
Next, get back in your car and head across the island to Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado to see the Giant Tortoise Reserve. This conservation center is responsible for replenishing the giant tortoise population on San Cristobal, which was struggling a few years ago.
They have a number of older tortoises and quite a few babies and “kindergarteners.” Once these young ones are old enough, they’ll join the wild population outside of the reserve to live out their days in paradise.
Guests can wander around a rugged trail loop to see the older tortoises foraging for food, chilling, and making their own efforts to repopulate the island (lol). There’s also a nursery area where the baby tortoises are kept safe in special boxes that protect them from aerial predators until they’re older enough to move into the kindergarten at 5 years old.
3:00 P.M. Hiking and Beach Time at Puerto Chino
After you’ve seen the tortoises, head just down the road to Puerto Chino, another one of the island’s gorgeous beach areas.
The parking lot is quite a ways from the beach, but you’ll be able to walk down a well-maintained pathway that takes you past some pretty cool flora and fauna. Some of the most interesting sights include the giant cacti, birds, and various lizards, but we also saw hummingbirds and lots of cool plants in our 20(ish)-minute walk.
Puerto Chino itself is a stunning blue bay hemmed in by a line of lava rock across from the trailhead. It’s a hot spot for sea lions, sea birds (including blue-footed boobies), and giant red crabs.
Spend some time exploring the beach and the rocky outcropping beyond, or just chill on the sand or in the waves. It’s an incredibly peaceful spot to spend a couple of hours. If you are on a hunt for those elusive blue-footed boobies, you’ll want to climb up the rocks and head to the far tip of the little peninsula they create. There’s a good chance you’ll find a group nesting back there (be sure to stay 6 feet away at all times!) if they’re not already flying overhead.
5:00 P.M. Dinner and Shopping in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
As evening approaches, head back to town, freshen up, and enjoy some time wandering around the town. Unlike most of Ecuador, San Cristobal (and pretty much anywhere in the Galapagos Islands) is completely safe, even at night! That means you have plenty of time to meander.
Rather than heading straight to the boardwalk, I recommend visiting a few of the local shops further inland first. These stores are typically less tourist-centric, so you’ll be able to have a more authentic shopping experience. They also tend to close earlier, so it’s a good idea to prioritize them.
As sunset approaches, make your way to the Malecon San Cristobal. This is a prime opportunity to stroll the boardwalk, chill on Playa de Oro, or grab dinner with a view.
The boardwalk has several two- to three-story restaurants where you can grab a balcony table and watch the sun sink over the South Pacific Ocean. Although the food on the boardwalk wasn’t my favorite, the views were definitely top-notch.
After dinner, enjoy a long evening of exploring Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Unlike most areas of Ecuador, the Galapagos are completely safe to wander around at night, alone or even with valuables! We were told on more than one occasion that we could flash our money around all we wanted, and no one would try to rob us.
So take advantage of the safe atmosphere and visit a few souvenir shops, grab some dessert, and be sure to stop by some of the local food marts! We had a fantastic time wandering down the aisles of their grocery stores to find unique local delicacies. Some of our favorites were blue corn chicha, unique Ecuadorian chocolate flavors, go-gurt-style electrolyte packets, and Galapagos-themed animal crackers!
See Video Footage of Our Ultimate Day on San Cristobal
Closing Thoughts on San Cristobal
You can find a lot of ways to explore the Galapagos Islands, but I feel like a stay on San Cristobal is an absolute must! Although small, there’s a lot of character to this little town, and the surrounding island is a true natural paradise. If you have extra days to fill up, I highly recommend a 360 Snorkeling Tour, a day trip to other islands, a visit to Punta Pitt, or a hike around the San Cristobal Biological Reserve.
You can also check out my NanoWhat map about San Cristobal for my top 10 things to do: https://nanowhat.com/product/san-cristobal-island/.
One more thing I want to point out is that staying on the islands is better for the economy than taking a cruise. I know these elaborate Galapagos cruises are pretty popular right now. But if you truly want to experience the Galapagos Islands and be a good eco-tourist, you should stay on land.
While luxurious, the cruises don’t always support the local economy because they take away the opportunity for locals to earn money from serving you food or taking you on tours. It’s actually a big pain point for the locals, and it came up a couple of times during our visit.
But that’s enough from me for now!
Thanks so much for reading this post. Be sure to save and share it for your Galapagos adventure! If you want to read more about San Cristobal, be sure to check out my 360 Snorkeling Tour post. And be sure to stay tuned for an upcoming post about how to get to the Galapagos Islands, including the paperwork, restrictions, and more.
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And if you’re interested in learning more about Ecuador, take a peek at these posts, too:
- Quito, Ecuador – 9 of the Best FREE & Cheap Things to See and Do!
- A Complete Guide to Packing for Ecuador: All 4 Regions!
- Quilotoa Crater–Ecuador’s Famous and Beautiful Volcanic Lake!
- 11 Essential Things to Know Before You Visit Ecuador
- I Booked an Ecuador Trip with Exoticca–Here’s What Happened
- Suchipakari Amazon Eco Lodge: The Good, Bad, And Ugly
- Dive Into the Galapagos with a 360 Snorkeling Tour!
Have a fantastic day, and happy travels!
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