The understated beauty of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno has cast many a spell over her beguiled visitors, a more idyllic little port town would be hard to find in Ecuador. Drawing confidence from naturally beautiful surroundings and her status as the capital of Galapagos Province, Baquerizo is a great place to chillax in comfort.

What I’m always struck by are the views, the not-very-strenuous hikes and a selection of luxurious hotels to unwind in. But Puerto Baquerizo Moreno can and does offer more than that. It is a great center for adventure activities such as scuba diving and surfing, searching out wildlife, and getting around the island of San Cristobal where it’s tucked away in the southwest corner.

Surf – San cristobal

Is paradise a destination or an idea? If your idea of paradise is a tranquil powder puff white sand beach lined with palm trees set next to a small sleepy village with just enough services and comfort levels to remind you of civilization then Puerto Villamil is your paradise.

There are no beach hawkers here, yet. No tuk-tuks and informal sellers. But you may be accosted – by local children wanting to show you the way to your hotel or their mom’s café. Even by Galapagos standards, Puerto Villamil is remote; it is the farthest settlement from the Ecuadorian mainland and if you consider sailing westward you’d better be well prepared because as land fades from sight your next stop is the Marquesas Islands some 4,000 miles away. To put that into context New York is closer to Poland.

Sierra negra volcano