Santa Cruz (Galapagos Islands) is part of an archipelago and a popular tourist location. It has the most hotels, shops, restaurants, and more since it is the most developed of all the Galapagos Islands.
The Galapagos Islands are part of the Galapagos National Park, home to the famous land iguanas, giant tortoises, and marine iguanas. Other famous wildlife includes blue-footed boobies, sea lions, reef sharks, Galapagos tortoises, a black turtle cove, and more.
I have long wanted to visit the Galapagos, the Santa Cruz Islands, and the surrounding islands! I want to share a few of my favorites with you so you have a guide for planning your trip to Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands.
Arrival and Transportation
My journey started with a flight to Baltra island, since this is the Galapagos airport. I got on a bus that took me to the boat station, where I got on a ferry that crossed the Itabaca Channel. I took another public bus and finally reached Puerto Ayora. Despite the long trip, I was energized and excited to start exploring Santa Cruz Island (the Galapagos Islands).
Most hotels have hot water, ac services, and private bathrooms. Check into your hotel, then you can start your Galapagos tour!
What to Do on Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island has unique places to explore, fun activities, and adventures. I tried many different things, from exploring the Santa Cruz highlands to taking day trips to the surrounding islands.
The following is not an exhaustive list, but here are my top 13 favorites and recommended things to do!
1. Charles Darwin Research Station
The Charles Darwin Research Center is named after the English biologist Charles Darwin. He got the inspiration for his famous theories on evolution during the time he spent on the Galapagos Islands. The Charles Darwin Research Station pays homage to the biologist and is an important sight in Puerto Ayora.
I walked to the research center since it was close to town. Entry is free, but it is better if you join a tour group since you will get a lot of information and explanations about the research. You only need one or two hours to visit the research center. They have minimal charges, but it was worth joining the tour group. You only need one or two hours to explore the Charles Darwin Research Center.
2. Playa de la Estación
After the Charles Darwin research station, I found this beautiful beach that I could walk to within a minute’s walking distance. It was a small, sandy beach with a great view of Academy Bay and a good spot for snorkeling.
3. Las Grietas
Las Grietas comes from the Spanish meaning: “The Cracks.” It is a rocky, narrow crevasse split in two, and that is where it got its name. The beauty of Las Grietas is the crystal clear water running underneath the surface, about 100 m below. It was love at first sight as soon as I stepped foot here, and it is a popular tourist spot for swimming and snorkeling.
I took a short water taxi ride from the docks and asked the driver to take me to Las Grietas. He shared how he has taken countless tourists to the spot (Angermeyer Point) with a warm smile. After this, I followed the path that took me to the Finch Bay Hotel, Playa De Los Alemanes, and Las Grietas. It took me about 20 minutes to reach here, and although I wore sandals, I got there comfortably.
There was no cost for Las Grietas, apart from the fare for the water taxi. It is a beautiful, serene, and calming place that I recommend to everyone. You might even get the spot to yourself if you choose the right time to visit it!
4. Puerto Ayora Fish Market
I started exploring Puerto Ayora town as soon as I dropped off my bags and checked into my hotel. The fish market caught my attention because of the clamoring of the crowd. Fishermen were unloading their haul of the day, locals were buying grilled fish for dinner, and tourists were capturing pictures of sea lions, pelicans, and other seabirds.
There are many colorful little shops in town, and the pier near the fish market is a great place to hang out and play with the sea lions. I even saw a baby sea lion nursing on the dock as I took this opportunity to stroll through the nearby beautiful beaches, including Tortuga Bay Beach and Garrapatero Beach.
5. Los Kiosk
Visiting Santa Cruz Island, I got to try the best restaurants in Puerto Ayora. There are plenty of shops that offer dinner at reasonable prices. I went off the main street and down Calle Charles Binford to find a Puerto Ayora version of a busy food street lined with stalls and restaurants.
These places did not have a posh look like the eateries on the main street of Santa Cruz Island, but the food here was delicious and cheaper. The lively atmosphere, the beautiful smells wafting from every shop, and the friendly tourists made this the perfect place to get food.
Dozens of servers came along as soon as I took a seat, encouraging me to look at their menu. I chose one according to my liking, and you can do the same. The food was fresh, and I got a lot of sides, a main, and a drink.
6. Cerro Dragon Hill
Cerro dragon hill is home to land iguanas and many shore birds. Black volcanic rocks cover the shore, and I saw some pink flamingos, frigate birds, and pelicans. Sally lightfoot crabs, also called ghost crabs, cover the sandy beach and rocks. You can see the bright red color as the sun reflects off the shell, and they disappear into sand holes
7. Laguna Las Ninfas
It is a nearby saltwater lagoon located west of the Puerto Ayora harbor. Take the first road on the left, walk for 100 meters, then turn left again, and you will find the lagoon at the end of this road. Las Ninfas is home to marine life, such as sea turtles, baby sharks, and more.
8. Lava Tunnels
Santa Cruz Island Galapagos has many lava tunnels because the Galapagos Islands are volcanic. Lava flows down the sides during a volcanic eruption and cools on the surface. The hot lava would continue flowing, creating tunnels on the earth’s surface. Now many visitors like visiting the lava tunnels and exploring them.
The Santa Cruz highlands are home to many natural lava tubes. Some people visit these tunnels along their way to see the giant tortoises nearby.
I took a taxi to the Rancho Primicias Tortoise Reserve and explored the half-kilometer-long tunnel. Some people visit the tunnels nearby Puerto Ayora in Santa Rosa, which is within walking distance, or you can take a bike. It is an excellent option if you want to avoid visiting the tortoise reserve but still visit the tunnels.
9. Diving at Gordon Rocks
The Gordon Rocks are the best place for diving in the entire Galapagos archipelago. It is on the northeastern side of Santa Cruz Galapagos islands, and you can distinguish it easily by the large pinnacles of rock. I found many marine animals at the Gordon Rocks, including white-tip reef sharks, spot sea turtles, sting rays, eels, mobula rays, Galapagos giant tortoises, and many other reef fish.
It is best to visit Gordon Rocks with an instructor if you are a beginner with no prior diving experience. I had a lot of fun at Gordon Rocks, even though I am not an experienced diver. Dive shops in Puerto Ayora gave me diving gear, transport, and a diving instructor, for a fee.
10. Mosquera
Santa Cruz island is in the center of the archipelago, with numerous small nearby islands to visit.
Mosquera Island is another popular diving spot near Santa Cruz. It is home to many sea creatures, such as reef sharks, marine iguanas, sea turtles, giant tortoises, hammerhead sharks, and more. I visited North Seymour along with Mosquera since the two places are often visited side by side.
The dive shops in Puerto Ayora arrange one-day trips to North Seymour and Mosquera, accompanied by an experienced diving instructor. I took one of the deals from these shops and had a great diving experience at both sites. Each shop has a different day scheduled for these trips, so you can ask around and see which day fits your itinerary.
11. North Seymour
North Seymour is another island near Santa Cruz Galapagos Islands for a day trip. It is the best natural island for seeing wildlife and is famous for blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and frigate birds. Many Galapagos tours offer trips to neighboring islands that you can book online or in person.
12. Isla Bartolomé
Isla Bartolomé is a small, barren island located on the north coast of Santa Cruz island. It is beautiful and the most photographed island. You cannot stay there, so you must book day tours with a tour guide. I had a fun time snorkeling at Pinnacle Rock by booking a tour.
Full-day tours cost more if you visit Santa Cruz island Galapagos during peak tourist seasons, i.e., June-Aug or Dec-Jan. You can get a cheaper rate if your schedule allows you to plan your trip apart from these months.
13. Tortuga Bay Beach
Tortuga Bay is five minutes away from Finch Bay Hotels. It is a protected area, so you must register yourself if you are visiting Tortuga Bay without a guide, as per the rules of the Galapagos national park.
The Tortuga Bay beach starts with a scenic view that takes you to Playa Brava, the first beach on this path. Tourists and visitors should not swim here because of the high water currents; that is why it is called Playa Brava, or Angry Beach.
After a 25-minute walk, I reached Tortuga Bay, concealed by mangroves. The water here was calm compared to the previous beach and perfect for swimming. Its pristine white sand makes you feel like you are in heaven
Conclusion
My trip to Santa Cruz island was full of adventure and beautiful scenery. The Galapagos cruises are great for sightseeing, meeting the locals, and experiencing the culture. There were plenty of shops in the main town where I could buy all essentials, including booking a guide or a day tour to explore the nearby islands.
Some notable places in Galapagos Islands include El Chato Tortoise Reserve, San Cristobal, Santa Fe, and Santa Rosa town, among others.
I summarized my experience in this short article, hoping you will get helpful tips for planning your trip. Have fun!
