Top Things to do in Santa Cruz
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10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Santa Cruz That You Shouldn't Miss
How often do you get the chance to walk through a tunnel of lava? Created by the flowing and cooling process of liquid magma, the underground lava tubes of Santa Cruz are simply breathtaking. The most popular is the Tunnel of Love, so named for the heart-shaped hole in the ceiling. Cool down with a splash in the fresh waters of Puerto Ayora, snorkel at Tortuga Bay or the mangrove-lined Garrapatero Beach and get friendly with the giant natives at the El Chato Tortoise Reserve.
Restaurants in Santa Cruz
1. Galapagos Shark Diving
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
Dive with the Whale Shark Experts of the research project, the Galapagos Whale Shark Project! A different kind of dive adventure - Dive with a Purpose! Enjoy the silence and adventure of Galapagos' unique under water world while supporting research and conservation of whale sharks.
2. Think Galapagos
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 62 reviews
Think Galapagos offers private day trips in the Galapagos Islands for those wishing to experience the most of this amazing place, before or after their Galapagos cruise. We can arrange accommodation in one of our favourite hotels and have a team of top local Galapagos National Park guides that will take care of you on your day trip. We can tailor make your day trips to specifically match your interests or to which wildlife you want to see, but here are our top six Galapagos day trips: 1. Hike in search of Giant Tortoises on Santa Cruz - full day 2. Kayaking at Itabaca Channel, Santa Cruz - half day 3. Scuba diving on Seymour Island (start on Santa Cruz) - full day 4. Sierra Negra volcano hike, Isabela Island - full day 5. Tintoreras Islet and The Tortoise Breeding Centre, Isabela Island - full day 6. Frigate Bird Hill, Tortoise Breeding Centre and Puerto Chino Beach, San Cristobal Island - full day.
Reviewed By Hafaner - Bowser, Canada
This was our first visit to Ecuador, and our first experience of a tailor-made holiday, with all travel and accommodation arrangements handed over to a travel company. It was an altogether excellent experience, with our Galápagos cruise bookended by five days in the jungle and then four in the cloud forest and the Andes. A huge thank-you to Rachel and her team for organizing the journey so well and for providing excellent pre-trip notes that were the envy of some fellow-passengers. All the arrangements for meeting us at airports, guiding us and sending us safely on to the next destination worked smoothly. Fausto was an excellent guide to Quito, David Grefa at the Napo Wildlife Centre was outstanding, and post-Galapágos, Pedro Pastor, who drove us to and from El Monte, was an enthusiastic birding guide, taking every opportunity to increase our list of lifers. The accommodations in Ecuador were all excellent. Casona de la Ronda in Quito was great for resting up after a long journey and getting used to the altitude, Napo Wildlife Centre was the perfect venue for encounters with jungle life, Casa La Jimenita was pleasantly close to the airport as well as abuzz with hummingbirds, El Monte was absolutely unique with its tarabita access and delightful cabaña, lodge, staff and food, and Hacienda Zuleta in the Andes was a real standout. The superb meals, the room with wood stove and hot water bottles, the stunning setting, the relaxed and homely atmosphere, the exceptionally friendly staff—and the cooler air—all made for a wonderful two and a half days to end our time in Ecuador. The Galápagos cruise on the Angelito was quite simply unforgettable. Our guide, Maja Homburger, was a model of efficiency in organizing the multiple embarkments and disembarkments over 8 days for her 14 charges, and gave us lots of very useful information on what we were seeing. We really appreciated the early starts to the day, getting us landed before other visitors at all those amazing sites, and spending plenty of time to ensure we were well acquainted with everything that makes these islands unique in the world. We loved our time on board and ashore, made lots of connections with fellow travellers who shared our enthusiasm for wildlife and landscape, and have wonderful vivid memories of a place like nowhere else. Our 19 days in Ecuador were a high point of our life-long experiences in travel, and we would jump at the opportunity to revisit the country some time. So again, many thanks to Think Galápagos for listening to what we were hoping to see and do, for your spot-on recommendations on where to go and stay, and for organizing guides, drivers and lodgings for a worry-free journey. A well-deserved five stars.
3. Famai Thai Massage
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 33 reviews
What is today called "Thai massage" or "Thai yoga massage" is an ancient healing system combining acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures.Famai Thai Massage is the only place in the Galapagos island where you can enjoy a wide range of different Thai massages.
Reviewed By divanomad
Having lived in Asia for many years it was a very pleasant surprise, to find a real Thai massage in the Galapagos Islands. Khun Famai is a graduate of Wat Po the leading school of massage therapy in Bangkok. She is very professional, kind and caring. I can highly recommend a visit to see her. The shop is a little difficult to find it is located at the end of Charles Darwin Avenue near the corner of Marchena Street. Just ask.
4. Galapagos Foodie
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Hi I am Cristina Ahassi naturalist guide, anthropologist, and foodie. My team and I host the Galapagos Foodie experience, a sustainable aproach to gastronomic tourism. In one evening you will visit five different restaurants that have embraced eco-friendly practices and chat with all their chefs. Join us and try the best Ecuadorian wine, coffee and chocolate, tropical drinks, sustainable and seasonal fish and seafood, as well as local and freerange pork, beef and goat. Along the way you will also find out how Charles Darwin became a foodie!
5. Chocolapagos Darwin's Favourites
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Chocolapagos is a gourmet artisan chocolate shop. Where you can stop bye and have a treat or book the live chocolate show were a turtle bonbom will be made as you are enjoying our amazing chocolates. All made with the finest 100% Ecuadorian Arriba Cacao.
Reviewed By Alanjacomev
If you have the chance to visit Santa Cruz island this is definitely a MUST visit on your list, exceptional quality and variety. Want some presents for friends and family? This is the place.
6. Shark Bay Dive Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 130 reviews
Highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities... ...Diving environment: drift diving, advanced divers, off the beaten track... This legendary Ecuador diving destination is often considered by experienced divers to represent something of a pinnacle in their scuba careers. In that sense, many agree that
7. Eagleray Tours
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 338 reviews
Explore The Galapagos Marine Reserve with Eagleray Tours and experience curious sea lion up close, beautiful sea turtles or majestic hammerhead sharks. We offer PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster in a safe environment, including the one-day Discover Scuba Diving if time is limited. If you're already a certified dive come join our daily dive trips covering all the dive sites in the area. We separate divers based on experience level to ensure that all guests get the best possible experience diving in the Galapagos, our groups are 5 divers per 1 diving instructor as a main guide. We are affiliated with the hyperbaric chamber, in wich we cover 75% of the use. We hope to see you soon!
8. Maki-Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Art Gallery Comercializes fine latin american art 100% handmade and fair traded
Reviewed By Q4776EIelizabethb
Except for tee shirts at the airports, this was the only place that I bought souvenirs. Handmade bags, tiny sculptures, and beautiful handmade jewelry, all reasonably priced. And, there was much more, but that was just what I bought!
9. Santa Cruz Fish Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 854 reviews
Reviewed By BradT546 - Auckland, New Zealand
Had a lot of fun watching the sea lions and pelicans interacting with the people at the fish market. Was fascinating watching the fishermen feed the off cuts to the sea lions and pelicans in the water and watching one pelican try to swallow a whole Tuna head. The sea lions are very entertaining.
10. Galeria Exotico Ecuador
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Galeria Exotico Ecuador offers a space for ancestral cultures and contemporary Ecuadorian art. We represent Fair Trade for the Galapagos Islands. Our store includes authentic ethnographic and urban crafts done by local artisans, communities, associations and families from all regions of Ecuador.
Reviewed By kimberlinka - San Diego, United States
I really enjoyed shopping here. We were able to get great character souvenirs for my vegan sister-in-law (vegetable ivory a.k.a. Tagua) and some fun shoes for us. I loved that they’re Fair Trade and the artists are all local. Stop by if you want something unique and that you can feel good about!
