Top tip: Ecuadorian residents are eligible for cheaper airfare to the Galápagos, but I’ve heard of a few instances of third-party booking sites mistakenly selling these cheaper fares to foreigners, who then have to pay the difference (usually $150USD) upon arrival at the airport. LATAM, TAME, and Avianca all operate daily flights from the mainland to Baltra (GPS), which is just off the coast of Santa Cruz and the more convenient of the two airports in the archipelago. Getting to the Galápagos From mainland EcuadorĮvery visitor to the Galápagos will travel through mainland Ecuador, either flying from Quito or Guayaquil out to the islands on a ~2hr flight. Where to stay on Santa Cruz: Puerto Ayora.Use this guide to discover everything you need to know about visiting Isla Santa Cruz, including flying to the Galápagos, getting to and around Puerto Ayora, where to stay, what to do on the island, and heaps of other handy travel tips. The Galápagos are widely regarded as one of the best places in the entire world to spot animals in their natural habitat, as well as being home to amazingly dramatic landscapes, pristine beaches, and scuba diving to rival all other scuba diving- and Santa Cruz is absolutely no exception to this.Īs the most populous and developed of the Galápagos Islands, Santa Cruz is the centrepiece of just about any travel itinerary to Ecuador’s legendary volcanic archipelago, with the main town of Puerto Ayora providing often the only connection between other islands and acting as the primary departure point for some of the most popular day tours.Įven if you only set foot on Santa Cruz out of necessity, though, you’ll certainly stay for the secret swimming holes, abundant marine life, and fresh-as-it-comes seafood.

Santa cruz island trip