Getting Around Puerto Ayora
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea LionMost hotels and some cafés rent bicycles
(per hour $1), a good way to get around
town and the highlands for the aerobically
ambitious.
To/From Airport
The airport is on Isla Baltra, a small island
practically touching the far northern edge
of Isla Santa Cruz. If you are booked on
a prearranged tour you will be met by a
boat representative upon arrival and ushered
onto a bus for the 10-minute drive to
the channel – separating Baltra from Santa
Cruz – and the boat dock.
If you are traveling independently, don’t
take these buses. Instead, take the public
bus that’s signed ‘Muelle’ to the dock (a
10-minute ride, free) for the ferry to Isla
Santa Cruz. A 10-minute ferry ride ($0.80)
will take you across to Santa Cruz, where
you will be met by a CITTEG bus to take
you to Puerto Ayora, about 45 minutes
away ($1.80). This drive (on a paved road)
provides a good look at the interior and
the highlands of Santa Cruz. There isn’t
much waiting involved and you should be
in Puerto Ayora about an hour after leaving
the airport.
You can buy your ticket on the bus or
at one of the ticket booths near the airport
exit. The ride is always crowded.
Buses from Puerto Ayora to Baltra (via
the ferry) leave early every morning to meet
the first flight from Baltra, and again later
timed to meet any other incoming flights.
Tickets are sold at the CITTEG bus station
around 2km north of the harbor at the
corner of Padre Julio Herrera and Charles
Binford.
Taxis are also available on the Santa Cruz
side of the channel to take you to Puerto
Ayora ($15, 30 minutes).
Buses & Taxis
Taxis from anywhere in town to the CITTEG
bus station cost $1. Buses from Puerto
Ayora to Santa Rosa (about $1) leave from
the bus station four or five times a day Monday
to Saturday and less often on Sunday.
Charters can be arranged for groups.
The most convenient way of seeing the
interior and ensuring that you don’t get
stuck is to hire a bus or truck for the day
with a group of other travelers.
All taxis are pickups which means you
can toss your bike in the back if you want to
return to Puerto Ayora by pedal power. To
Bellavista by taxi is around $2 and to Santa
Rosa is around $15 – both one way.
Tags: Transportation
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