Galapagos Islands - Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz, also called Indefatigable Island, is located in the center of the Galapagos Islands archipelago. It also the center of human activity in the Galapagos Islands, since the National Park Headquarters, the Darwin Research Station, and the largest settlement in the Galapagos Islands, Puerto Ayora, are all located on Academy Bay on the south side of Santa Cruz island. The main airport, originally an air base built by the US Navy during WW II, is located on Baltra, a small, low island separated from the northwest corner of Santa Cruz by the narrow Itabaca Channel. Santa Cruz is the only island having a road that crosses its interior (running from Puerto Ayora in the south to the Itabaca Channel crossing in the north), thus providing tourists a rare opportunity to see the interior and higher elevations of a Galapagos island.

Tourist Information

Landing: Dry Landing

Wildlife Highlights: Blue herons, sea turtles, rays, whitetip sharks, herons, Galapago giant tortoises, vermilion flycatchers, tyrant flycatchers, galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, woodpecker finches, many species of finches, galapagos dove, petrels, pelicans, manta Rays, golden rays, marine Iguanas, land iguanas, blue footed boobies, sea Lions.

Activity Higlights: Dining, hiking, walking, camping, snorkeling, 
scuba diving, birdwatching, cycling, horseback riding, Darwin station visit, sea kayaking, windsurfing, sun and beach, surfing. 

Conditions: Several terrains from easy walks on the beach to walk in rainforest and swamp land and ruff terrain and high in the mountains, nice beaches for swimming and snorkelling.

Notes: Santa Cruz is a world in its own. Though burgeoning with tourism, it has that relaxed coastal town feeling. Its pace matches that of Lonely George, and so don't be in a hurry while spending time here. There are many one-day tours to unique sites that are not visited during cruises.

Galapagos Islands Tours and Excursions description

Santa Cruz Island has 13 + visitor sites:

Tortuga Bay
Bachas Beach
Black Turtle Cove
Charles Darwin Research Center
Lava Tunnels
Los Gemelos (twin sink-holes)
Mount Crocker
Puerto Ayora (the capital)
Galapagos National Park Highland Tortoise reserve
Dragon hill
Conway Bay
Garrapatero beach
Whaler Bay