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

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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Ecuador

Epic Ecuador: volcanoes, jungles & the Galapagos

14 nights from $8.8K per person

Quito Otavalo The Ecuadorian Amazon

Ecuador

The best of the Galapagos by land & sea

7 nights from $5.8K per person

Isla Santa Cruz The Galapagos Islands

Ecuador

The islands of the Galapagos

5 nights from $2.4K per person

Isla Santa Cruz The Galapagos Islands Isla Isabela

Ecuador

Action-packed Ecuador & the Galapagos

10 nights from $3.3K per person

Guayaquil Isla Santa Cruz The Galapagos Islands

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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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