Ecuador🇪🇨 | townsPuerto VillamilSierra Negra crater, Tintoreras sharks, Wall of Tears, flamingo lagoons | things to do and best time to go

A taxi ride within Puerto Villamil costs a flat US$1 to 2 per person, paid in cash (US dollars) straight to the driver, and most town hops take under five minutes. The town is small, flat and sandy-streeted, so you can cross it on foot in about 15 minutes. Traffic barely exists, and there is no public bus network, which is fine because everything you want sits close together.

• Walking: Free, and the best option for the waterfront, the main plaza, the lagoon trail to the tortoise breeding center and the beach. Start early or late, since midday sun on the open sand is fierce. Carry a liter or two of water and skip the taxi for anything inside town.
• Rental bicycle: US$5 to 10 for a few hours, or roughly US$10 to 15 for a day, from shops along the main streets. This is the move for the paved and

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A taxi ride within Puerto Villamil costs a flat US$1 to 2 per person, paid in cash (US dollars) straight to the driver, and most town hops take under five minutes. The town is small, flat and sandy-streeted, so you can cross it on foot in about 15 minutes. Traffic barely exists, and there is no public bus network, which is fine because everything you want sits close together.

• Walking: Free, and the best option for the waterfront, the main plaza, the lagoon trail to the tortoise breeding center and the beach. Start early or late, since midday sun on the open sand is fierce. Carry a liter or two of water and skip the taxi for anything inside town.
• Rental bicycle: US$5 to 10 for a few hours, or roughly US$10 to 15 for a day, from shops along the main streets. This is the move for the paved and dirt path toward the Muro de las Lágrimas (about 5 km one way), with stops at the Wall viewpoints, lagoons and beaches on the way. Check the brakes and tires before you leave, and set off in the morning before the heat peaks.
• Taxi pickup trucks: White double-cab trucks are the local taxis. Rides in town cost US$1 to 2 per person, and trips to the airport just outside town run about US$5 to 8 for the vehicle (ask first, since fares are agreed rather than metered). Trucks are also how you reach the highlands and the Sierra Negra trailhead, around US$20 to 30 for the vehicle, which is a good deal if you split it among three or four people. Late at night they thin out, so arrange your return ahead.
• Tour boats and water taxis: You cannot reach Los Túneles or Tintoreras islet except by boat. Short Tintoreras trips are usually priced around US$30 to 40 and Los Túneles around US$80 to 100 for a half day. Worth the money, because snorkeling with turtles, rays and reef sharks is the reason most people come. Book at agencies along the waterfront a day ahead, and compare two or three prices before paying.
• Inter-island speedboats: Fast boats to Santa Cruz leave in the early morning (usually around 6:00 to 7:00) and take about 2 to 2.5 hours, at roughly US$30 to 35 one way. Pay at the agency, and expect a rough crossing, so take motion sickness pills before boarding. The rides are the only budget way to move between islands, and you should buy your ticket the day before.

Puerto Villamil works as a base for a handful of easy trips, and nearly all of them are sold by agencies on Avenida Antonio Gil with same-day departures.Sierra Negra Volcano and Volcán Chico: A full-day hike up to one of the largest volcanic craters in the world, then onward over black lava fields to Volcán Chico. Expect 16 km round trip and 5 to 7 hours of walking. Agency prices run US$30 to 50 with a guide, plus a park fee of US$10 to 20. Go in the morning, since clouds often cover the crater later. The common mistake is wearing sandals; bring closed shoes and rain gear.
Los Túneles: Snorkel among seahorses, sea turtles, rays and white-tipped reef sharks near eroded lava arches by boat. The trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes each way and costs US$100 to 130 for a half day. Calm seas from December … read more 👉

Puerto Villamil works as a base for a handful of easy trips, and nearly all of them are sold by agencies on Avenida Antonio Gil with same-day departures.Sierra Negra Volcano and Volcán Chico: A full-day hike up to one of the largest volcanic craters in the world, then onward over black lava fields to Volcán Chico. Expect 16 km round trip and 5 to 7 hours of walking. Agency prices run US$30 to 50 with a guide, plus a park fee of US$10 to 20. Go in the morning, since clouds often cover the crater later. The common mistake is wearing sandals; bring closed shoes and rain gear.
Los Túneles: Snorkel among seahorses, sea turtles, rays and white-tipped reef sharks near eroded lava arches by boat. The trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes each way and costs US$100 to 130 for a half day. Calm seas from December to May make the water clearer. Pack a rash guard because the water can be chilly, and book a day ahead since boats fill.
Tintoreras Islet: A short boat ride gets you to a lava channel where white-tipped reef sharks rest, with marine iguanas and penguins nearby. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours and costs US$30 to 40. Mornings are best, and snorkeling is included in most tours. Many first-timers skip bringing a camera that works in water.
Wall of Tears: Take a bike ride along a flat 5 km road west of town to a stone wall built by prisoners in the 1940s. Allow 3 to 4 hours total and bring water, as the cost is only the bike rental, about US$5 to 10. Start early to beat the heat, and stop at the viewpoints along the way.