Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on May 9, 2024
Playa de la Estación is considered the best free shore access snorkeling spot in Puerto Ayora, the main town in the Galápagos Islands. Sheltered by a rock barrier, the shallow bay allows for spotting stingrays, sea urchins, starfish, reef fish, and occasional small sharks.
Playa de la Estación (Station Beach) is a small beach located on the edge of the town of Puerto Ayora, on the southern shores of Santa Cruz. The beach is located opposite the Charles Darwin Station, a scientific research center dedicated to the Galápagos Islands, from which it takes its name.
From the Puerto Ayora jetty, it takes about 15 minutes on foot to reach the beach following the road that runs along the shore (Avenida Charles Darwin). The beach is well signposted.
Playa de la Estación is located in the Galápagos National Park. It is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Free entry.
The water is from the small sandy beach. It is advisable to snorkel Playa de la Estación early in the morning, and preferably at low tide.
The small bay facing Playa de la Estación is well suited to snorkeling as it is sheltered by a rock barrier. The sea is generally very calm, but underwater visibility can vary.
On this spot, the seabed is mainly rocky and sandy, with in places small colonies of rather dull corals. The depth does not exceed 6 feet/2 meters, which allows for observing marine life from the surface.
Even in the shallow areas near the beach, many fish can be spotted, including mullet, salema, and bullseye puffers.
The large sandy area on the left allows for encounters with small stingrays of different species, busy feeding by digging in the sand.
As you snorkel along the rocks, you will see sergeant majors, Gregory (abundant in places), and threebanded butterflyfish. Sometimes a Galápagos sea lion hovers above the seabed – they are also often seen sleeping on the beach.
At certain times of the year, which are difficult to predict, small Galápagos sharks settle by the dozen in the bay.
There is no restaurant on the beach, but you will find a large choice of accommodation and food options in town.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
