Puerto Ayora, Ecuador Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

Lying around the azure inlets of Academy Bay's rocky shore, PUERTO AYORA , on the southern coast of Santa Cruz, was home to fewer than a couple of hundred people until the early 1970s. Now, laden with souvenir shops, travel agents, restaurants and hotels, the town supports a population of around 11,000 people who enjoy a standard of living that's higher than any other province in the republic, giving the port a distinct aura of well-appreciated privilege. There's a relaxed atmosphere to the place, with tourists meandering down the waterfront in the daytime, browsing through the shops stuffed with … more »