Santa Cristobal Island
Visitor Sites - Accommodation - Bar-Restaurants - Activities
Airlines - Travel Agencies - Banks-Money Transfer
PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO
STREETS
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos, is a very small place where it’s almost impossible to get lost. It’s safe to walk around at night, although you should take the usual precautions and on certain days of the week (Sundays in particular), the place can seem almost completely deserted. The town is centered round four main roads and is made up restaurants and small stores selling food and tourist items. There’s a relatively good choice of accommodation here when you consider its’ size but nightlife (bars and clubs), although good, is minimal. There are a few travel agencies and places where tours can be arranged but these are mainly located in the busier economic centre, Santa Cruz. What follows is a general guide to the main services that can be found on the streets of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Avenida Charles Darwin is the main street that fronts that town and runs parallel to the seafront, ending just after the Pier. Starting from the far end in the quieter Barrio Frio area, opposite Playa de los Marinos, first you will come across the newly opened Tame office. This has recently relocated from its’ original position, a few blocks North. Then there’s the CDE (Correos Del Ecuador) main post office, which has a mail box outside. Along the rest of the street are the Nueva Era office (where volunteers teach English to local children), a myriad of tourist shops, Nicole Pharmacy, two internet cafes, a bank (Banco del Pacifico) and a shop selling DVDS, CDS and mobile phones.
Avenida Quito runs East and also begins opposite Playa de los Marinos where a large model tortoise stands munching leaves. To the right is a baseball court in which stands a huge brown sea-lion where children play. Further up you will find the provincial Oskar Jandl hospital. You will also find ‘Redental’ orthodontists, Tropic Bird restaurant, which serves great $2 lunches, Pacifictel (where you can send faxes and make national and international calls) and Dos Hermanos store which sells anything from beans and bread to cleaning products.
Juan Jose Flores runs North. On this street you will find Foto Estudio Flash (Flash photography studio), which is the best place to develop your photographs and download from your digital camera. This is situated next to Iguana Rock bar. Along this street is also the Mercado Municipal de San Cristobal where you can buy cheap fruit and vegetables. There’s also a butchers and the cheap Rokas and Kactus restaurant.
Alsacio Northia runs all the way from Playaman beach to the airport, where you will find La Loberia (a fantastic deserted beach with sea-lions, marine iguanas and good surfing). In the centre of town is La Concha, an area where outdoor parties and other events take place. Here you will find The Cart which sells huge portions of barbecued meats with rice and beans from a stall, for only $3.50. There’s also a small launderette, a stationery shop, a mobile phone shop, a bakery selling fresh bread and cakes and a Cathedral that’s opened for religious services Monday to Saturday at 7pm and at 8.15am and 7pm on Sundays. The San Francisco University is directly opposite Playaman.
On Espanola you can find the Police Station. You can also find another Pacifictel. Mockingbird café and Bar and Restaurant el Descanso Marinero (which sells excellent cheap cerviche). Chalo tours, Galakiwi tours and Cristobal tours are situated here.
On Jose de Villamil you will find the main pharmacy, Farmacia San Cristobal. Superwash launderette will wash and dry your clothes within two to three hours and are very good. There’s also a hairdressers, a place to make international and local calls and a Fed-Ex parcel service, which is situated in the ‘Tienda Don Victor’ store.
TRANSPORT
In general, most people drive around on small scooters. Apart from the many white Cheverolet taxis that drive around beeping their horns trying to attract custom, those who have lived here for some time will actually notice when a new car arrives on the Island. Local buses also run to the highlands but these are infrequent. A taxi to El Progresso costs only $2.