Galapagos Islands – Santa Cruz

The island of Santa Cruz has the largest and most developed town in the Galápagos; almost every visitor to the islands spends at least some time here, even if it’s simply commuting from the airport on nearby Isla Baltra to a cruise ship in the harbor of Puerto Ayora. However, to anyone who stays for longer, the island of Santa Cruz is more than just a way station or place to feel connected to the modern, man-made world; it’s a destination in itself, full of visitor sites, easily accessible beaches and remote highlands in the interior, a base for adventurous activities far from the tourism trail and is the main tourism hub in the archipelago.  Situated in Academy Bay on the southern coast of Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora is a port town where sailboats fill the bay, sea birds fill the air, and marine iguanas dot the shore. Puerto Ayora is the heart and soul of the Galapagos Islands’ human population

Puerto Ayora also offers the most options for tourists who prefer to sleep ashore. There are a variety of day tours available allowing visitors to design their own Galapagos experience. Day-trips to a number of the islands, kayaking, tours of the highlands, hiking, dive trips, mountain biking, and horseback riding are just a few of the activities visitors can arrange in Puerto Ayora. It is also home to the headquarters of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station

The island of Santa Cruz has a maximum altitude of 864 m (2835 ft). A trip into the highlands allows you to experience another flavor of the local culture. Inhabitants of this lush and fertile area rely on the earth in much the same way that the port city depends on the sea. We welcome you to explore this area and the many hidden treasures

Known for its quaint hotels with creative architecture and small restaurants with delicious seafood, Puerto Ayora is the base point for most tours and offers the most services in Galapagos, including a hospital, banks, post office, radio station and a TAME airline office. Most travelers to the Galapagos will make a stop in Puerto Ayora during their trip. Airlines that fly to Galapagos: TAME and LAN Ecuador.