Las Grietas

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For nice swimming and snorkeling, head to this water-filled crevice in the rocks. Talented and fearless locals climb the nearly vertical walls to plunge into the water below. Take a water taxi (per person US$0.80 from 6am to 7pm) to the dock for the Angermeyer Point restaurant, then walk past the Finch Bay Hotel, then past an interesting salt mine, and finally up and around a lava-rock-strewn path to the water. It's about a 700m walk from the dock.

Keep an eye on any valuables that you leave on the rocks.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • El Chato Tortoise Reserve

    El Chato Tortoise Reserve

    10.4 MILES

    South of Santa Rosa is El Chato Tortoise Reserve, where you can observe giant tortoises in the wild. When these virtually catatonic, prehistoric-looking…

  • MAPRAE

    MAPRAE

    0.93 MILES

    The first of its kind in the world, this museum uses augmented reality to showcase a permanent exhibition of 55 pre-Columbian artifacts. The ancient…

  • Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Galapagos giant tortoise

    Charles Darwin Research Station

    1.28 MILES

    Just northeast of Puerto Ayora is this iconic national-park site, where over 200 scientists and volunteers are involved with research and conservation…

  • Tortuga Bay

    Tortuga Bay

    1.29 MILES

    In terms of sheer white-sand beauty, this beach is the rival of any in South America. You’ll find it at the end of a 2.5km paved trail southwest of Puerto…

  • Rancho Primicias

    Rancho Primicias

    10.28 MILES

    Next to El Chato is this private ranch, where there are dozens of giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will. The entrance is beyond Santa Rosa,…

  • Playa Mansa, Galapagos Islands.

    Playa Mansa

    1.87 MILES

    If you walk the length of Tortuga Bay, you'll reach this picturesque lagoon lined with mangroves. Here you can spot marine iguanas, brown pelicans and…

  • Tourists visiting the el Garrapatero beach on Santa Cruz island.

    El Garrapatero Beach

    7.79 MILES

    A 30-minute taxi ride from Puerto Ayora through the highlands, plus a 15-minute walk, brings you to this beautiful beach. It has tidal pools that are good…

  • Lava Tunnels

    Lava Tunnels

    10.27 MILES

    These impressive underground tunnels southwest of the village of Santa Rosa are more than 1km in length and were formed when the outside skin of a molten…

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Nearby attractions

1. Punta Estrada Beach

0.4 MILES

The small beach in front of the Finch Bay Hotel is a good place to while away a few hours. The water here is pristine and sharks have been known to pass…

2. Laguna de las Ninfas

0.73 MILES

This peaceful lagoon has a short boardwalk path, where you can stop to take in the mangroves while looking for stingrays, baby sharks, sea turtles and…

3. MAPRAE

0.93 MILES

The first of its kind in the world, this museum uses augmented reality to showcase a permanent exhibition of 55 pre-Columbian artifacts. The ancient…

4. Tortoise Statue

1.03 MILES

Among the various statues of prominent Galapagos wildlife around Puerto Ayora, this is probably the most photographed of them all.

5. Charles Darwin Research Station

1.28 MILES

Just northeast of Puerto Ayora is this iconic national-park site, where over 200 scientists and volunteers are involved with research and conservation…

6. Tortuga Bay

1.29 MILES

In terms of sheer white-sand beauty, this beach is the rival of any in South America. You’ll find it at the end of a 2.5km paved trail southwest of Puerto…

7. Playa Mansa

1.87 MILES

If you walk the length of Tortuga Bay, you'll reach this picturesque lagoon lined with mangroves. Here you can spot marine iguanas, brown pelicans and…

8. El Garrapatero Beach

7.79 MILES

A 30-minute taxi ride from Puerto Ayora through the highlands, plus a 15-minute walk, brings you to this beautiful beach. It has tidal pools that are good…