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Galápagos brown pelican, Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz
Island guideToursStay Updated Nov 6, 2026

Santa Cruz, Galápagos

The hub of the Galápagos: the biggest town, the most hotels and the most boat day trips. Most land-based trips start and end here.

  • 15tours from here
  • $111median hotel night
  • Puerto Ayoramain town
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Short answer: Santa Cruz is where to base yourself for boat day trips (North Seymour, Bartolomé, Santa Fe, Pinzón) and for wild giant tortoises in the highlands. Give it at least 3 nights; Puerto Ayora is about an hour from Baltra airport.

  • Main townPuerto Ayora
  • AirportBaltra (GPS), about an hour away by bus, channel ferry and bus or taxi
  • FerriesTo Isabela 06:00, 14:00; to San Cristóbal 07:00, 15:00
  • Hotelsmedian $111 a night (our Feb 2027 check)
EQUATOR · 0° Volcán Wolf≈ 1,670 mVolcán Wolf: highest point about 1,670 m in the GMRT elevation gridCerro Azul≈ 1,650 mCerro Azul: highest point about 1,650 m in the GMRT elevation gridSierra Negra≈ 1,110 mSierra Negra: highest point about 1,110 m in the GMRT elevation gridAlcedo≈ 1,130 mAlcedo: highest point about 1,130 m in the GMRT elevation gridVolcán Darwin≈ 1,370 mVolcán Darwin: highest point about 1,370 m in the GMRT elevation gridLa Cumbre≈ 1,440 mLa Cumbre (Fernandina): highest point about 1,440 m in the GMRT elevation gridSanta Cruz highlands≈ 820 mSanta Cruz highlands: highest point about 820 m in the GMRT elevation gridSan Cristóbal highlands≈ 680 mSan Cristóbal highlands: highest point about 680 m in the GMRT elevation gridSantiago≈ 890 mSantiago: highest point about 890 m in the GMRT elevation gridPinta≈ 610 mPinta: highest point about 610 m in the GMRT elevation grid ISABELAFERNANDINASANTIAGOSANTA CRUZSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANAESPAÑOLAPINTAMARCHENAGENOVESASANTA FEPINZÓNBALTRA North SeymourBartoloméSanta FeSouth PlazaPinzónKicker RockLos TúnelesTintorerasTortuga BaySierra NegraPunta SuárezEl Chato Puerto AyoraPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPuerto VillamilPuerto Velasco Ibarra ✈GPSBaltra (GPS)✈SCYSan Cristóbal (SCY)✈IBBIsabela (IBB) 🐢Giant tortoises🐧Penguins🐧Penguins🦶Blue-footed boobies🦩Flamingos🦩Flamingos🦭Sea lions in town🦎Marine iguanas🦦Flightless cormorants🕊Waved albatross (Apr–Dec)🔴Red-footed boobies🐠Turtles & sharks (snorkel)🦈White-tip sharks 010 km N
sea depth 3,000 m → shore land 0 → 1,400 m+ FerryAirportTown Relief and depth: GMRT (Ryan et al. 2009, CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation.

What to see and do

Galápagos giant tortoise in the Santa Cruz highlands
Free walk-in

Charles Darwin Research Station

Walk-in from town: the Fausto Llerena tortoise breeding centre was the most visited site in the national park in 2025 (148,499 visits).

Galápagos brown pelican, Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz
Free walk-in

Tortuga Bay

A paved path through cactus forest to a long white beach with marine iguanas; a calm bay at the far end. Open 06:00–18:00 with registration at the entrance.

The clear water of Las Grietas
Bay tour

Las Grietas

A swimming hole in a lava crevice. Visited with the bay tour or an organised group with advance reservation.

Galápagos giant tortoise in the Santa Cruz highlands
Half-day tour

Highlands: wild tortoises and lava tunnels

Giant tortoises roam the farms and the El Chato reserve; walk through a lava tube.

North Seymour island
Boat day trip

North Seymour

Blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and about 2,500 land iguanas along the trail.

Pinnacle Rock and the twin bays of Bartolomé
Boat day trip

Bartolomé

The postcard view of Pinnacle Rock, and a chance of penguins.

Tours from Santa Cruz

Every Santa Cruz listing on GetYourGuide →

Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Compare every tour on all islands: day-tour finder.

Where to stay on Santa Cruz

A double room in Puerto Ayora costs about $63 at the budget end, $111 mid-range and $270 or more at the top (Google Hotels, February 2027).

HotelStarsNight, 2 adults
Galapagos Dove★★$32
Galapagos Morning Glory★★★$46
Hostal Seymour - Puerto Ayora★★★$47
Sir Francis Drake★★★$48
Guide's Rest Hotel★★★★$63
Estrella del Mar★★★$65
Galapagos Dreams★★★$104
Coloma★★★$111

See Puerto Ayora hotels for your dates Which island to stay on?

Fit it into your trip

Itinerary planner · Ferry board · Trip cost · Best month · Wildlife bingo

Sources (12)· checked 2026-11-06

Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.