U.S. News Insider Tip: For the 1.55-mile trek to Tortuga Bay's Playa Mansa, wear comfy shoes and bring snacks and water. Once at the beach, you can snorkel, watch marine iguanas or rent a kayak ...

Stephen: I heard about Cuenca, Ecuador, as a place to retire way back ... There are so many things to do here, including art ...

Half-day tours that combine bird-watching with snorkeling are also available from Santa Cruz and Isabela via companies like Grupo Galápagos, Nature Galapagos & Ecuador and Andando Tours.