Isla Santa Cruz

Isla Santa Cruz Trips & Tours

Isla Santa Cruz

An island of trundling giant tortoises, lava tunnels and sugary beaches in the Galapagos.

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Isla Santa Cruz Trips & Tours

Adventurous activities and eclectic inland wildlife on the second-largest island in the archipelago.
If ever there was a ‘hub’ of the Galapagos, Isla Santa Cruz would be it. The second-largest of all the islands – and the one that completely disproves the myth that the Galapagos is uninhabited by humans – the main port, Puerto Ayora, is the start and end point for most boat and yacht trips, day excursions or longer. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Information Centre are also here, and there’s an airport (on nearby Baltra) that supports inter-island flights, as well as back to mainland Ecuador. But, back to the fun stuff, which, on Santa Cruz, are the giant tortoises that roam wild in the forested highlands next to coffee farms and tiny villages. There is also an incredible network of lava tunnels to explore, the glorious, white-sand Tortuga Bay where marine iguanas float in the water and your neighbouring sunbathers might include pelicans and flamingo, and picturesque lagoons to kayak alongside blue herons and sea turtles. Some may tell you to give Santa Cruz a miss, but for those who stay longer, there’s a whole world to discover.
Trips

Isla Santa Cruz Trips & Tours

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Epic Ecuador: volcanoes, jungles & the Galapagos
Ecuador

Epic Ecuador: volcanoes, jungles & the Galapagos

14 nights from $9.2K per person

The best of the Galapagos by land & sea
Ecuador

The best of the Galapagos by land & sea

7 nights from $6K per person

The islands of the Galapagos
Ecuador

The islands of the Galapagos

5 nights from $2.5K per person

Action-packed Ecuador & the Galapagos
Ecuador

Action-packed Ecuador & the Galapagos

10 nights from $3.3K per person

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Joanna Rigby-Jones

Africa & South America Travel Specialist

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Jonty Medcalf

Africa and Antarctica Travel Specialist

Carola

Carola Fresno

South America & Indian Subcontinent Travel Specialist

Things to do

What to do in Isla Santa Cruz

The second largest island in the Galapagos, Santa Cruz is the start and end point for most cruises. Whether you stop here whilst exploring the waters or are spending a few nights on its shores, there's plenty to see. Cycle across the highlands on the lookout for giant tortoise; hike through the lava tunnels; pay a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station; spend time on the lagoon on a kayaking excursion; and dive below the gin-clear ocean to spot turtles, sea lions and tropical fish. Spend a few hours (or days) on the white-sand Tortuga Beach, soaking up the sun and views and looking out for the marine iguanas arriving ashore. Along the way, you never know how many members of the 'Galapagos 15' you'll see.

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Culture

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station

Culture

Wander through the streets of Puerto Ayora

Food & cooking

Tour coffee and sugar plantations in Santa Cruz

Best time to visit

When to go on a Isla Santa Cruz Trip

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Reviews

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Based on 8 Feefo Reviews for Ecuador

Our Peruvian Adventure
Andrew Sutherland
Our Peruvian Adventure
May 2026
24 nights in Peru and Ecuador
Carola Fresno was brilliant and helped us plan a wonderful trip,and both she and her colleague Flor were very helpful and available whenever we had any queries or needed to change our itinerary during the trip. This is our second time using Timbuktu for planning a major vacation and we will definitely use them again for our next “adventure”.We’ve also recommended them to a number of our friends.
Makes travel planning easy
James DuGranrut
Makes travel planning easy
February 2026
12 nights in Ecuador
Our second trip planned by Timbuktu and the process was as easy as our first. Great recommendations from Carola on where to go and what to see. Our trip to Africa was such a joy with all the details taken care of and guides at every step.
The Perfect Galapagos Adventure
Kyle Barre
The Perfect Galapagos Adventure
February 2026
10 nights in Ecuador
Meagan and Millie at Timbuktu provided first class service from start to finish. From planning and booking to white glove service during our trip, our experience was excellent. The properties and excursions were great and the guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. We always knew the plan, didn’t have any hiccups, and learned so much along the way. 5 stars for sure!
Our Peruvian Adventure
Andrew Sutherland
Our Peruvian Adventure
October 2025
24 nights in Peru and Ecuador
Timbuktu remain the best travel company we have ever used.They created a fabulous trip for us earlier this year to South Africa and have just finished planning our next trip to Peru and the Galapagos Isles.Carola Fresno who is their local representative covering Latin American has been tremendous,and a pleasure to deal with.We can’t recommend them enough!
Excellent recommendations and concern for safety
Guest
Excellent recommendations and concern for safety
January 2024
8 nights in Ecuador
Excellent recommendations and communication. Even through some stressful circumstances beyond anyone’s control, Carola and the team and Hacienda La Danesa made sure we were safe and well taken care of.
David Hoover
June 2023
5 nights in Ecuador
Carola Fresno, Travel Specialist Was AMAZING ! Very Prompt (even when I wasn't!) Answered all my questions / Concerns / Issues! Will use Carola Fresno Travel Specialist again fir Future Trips !

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