Galapagos - Santa Cruz

The Galapagos island of Santa Cruz is not the largest of the archipelago but it is considered the most important as it is the most developed and visited of the islands. Located in the center of the neighboring isles, Santa Cruz is home to the largest human population of all the islands. The town of Puerto Ayora is where the majority of these residents live and as expected with such a large population, hotels, shops, restaurants, and a few night clubs can also be found here.

Once you arrive at either of the islands’ main airports, airport busses will transfer you to Puerto Ayora, the main ferry departure terminal of the Islands. Most tourism business is conducted on the waterfront. Here, if not already part of a guided tour, visitors can take water taxis available on the main dock or utilize colectivos (white pickup truck taxis) that travel around town.

In terms of attractions, the famous Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) is located here. Inside the station visitors can learn about Galapagos ecology, geology, and weather patterns. In conjunction with the Galapagos National Park Service, whose headquarters are also located on Santa Cruz, the CDRS operates a giant tortoise breeding center here. The price for admission to the center is included in the $100 national park entry fee paid upon arriving to the Galapagos.

The Santa Cruz highlands – rich in vegetation – are also known for their lava tunnels, the longest of which are located on privately-owned farms nearing the towns of Bellavista and Santa Rosa. The entrance fee is around USD $5. Mountain-biking is also a popular activity in this area of the island. Mention it to your Latin America For Less Travel Advisor if you would like this excursion included during your Galapagos vacation.

An ideal place for snorkeling or swimming in Santa Cruz is Las Grietas, a wonderful gorge with a pool of crystal blue water at the bottom. However, if you are more interested in the unique geological formations on the island, be sure not to miss Los Gemelos (The Twins): two sunken volcanic craters that are perched on the highest point of the island in a constant cloud forest.
Garrapatero Beach is another wonderful place to swim or snorkel the beautiful waters of the Galapagos Islands while also witnessing interesting wildlife roam free. Here travelers will be able to spot blue-footed boobies, pelicans, marine iguanas, and crabs. Take a walk behind the beach to see the small lagoon and mangroves where marine fowl such as pink flamingos, stilts, and herons hide out.

Another natural wonder of Santa Cruz is Bahía Tortuga (Turtle Bay). Follow the 2-mile trail from Puerto Ayora to the bay that features one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Galapagos. Here travelers will be able to appreciate marine iguanas and turtles, the latter of which use the shores of the beach to lay their eggs between November and February. Be careful not to walk on the dunes located above the beach as this is the egg-nesting area.

Finally, it would be a shame for visitors to the archipelago to skip the National Park Tortoise Reserve. This is one of the few places in the entire Galapagos Islands where you can see giant Galapagos turtles in the wild. From the town of Santa Rosa, follow the unmarked trail that leads to the reserve. En route, keep an eye out for Darwin finches, Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, and other fascinating creatures of these islands.