San Cristobal Airport

San Cristobal is one of the most visited islands in the Galápagos. Most of the commercial flights to and from mainland Ecuador come through the airport located there. One of the great advantages to staying in San Cristobal is the proximity of the airport to the town—only a quick five-minute taxi ride. The capital of the Galápagos is also located on the island of San Cristobal, in the town of Baquerizo Moreno. In town you can find many modern-day amenities, including hotels, stores, banks, and restaurants.

Interpretation Center

Learn about the history and biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands on a self-guided walking tour at the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island. The center is located on the outskirts of Baquerizo Moreno, within walking distance of the town. Discover interesting facts like the volcanic origin of the archipelago, learn about conservation efforts, and explore the islands’ human history.

Cerro Tijeretas

Hike to the top of Cerro Tijeretas with a naturalist guide on this one-hour walk. The summit reaches 650 feet above sea level and provides scenic views of Wreck Bay to one side and the town of Baquerizo Moreno on the other. Charles Darwin landed on this island on September 16, 1835, during his only trip to the Galapagos. Cerro Tijeretas translates to Scissor Hill, named after the scissor-shaped tails of the frigatebirds that nest in the area. Here you can observe both magnificent and great frigatebirds, along with endemic creatures like mockingbirds and lava lizards.

Leon Dormido

Located off the coast of San Cristobal Island, Leon Dormido offers an excellent spot for snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands. This famous landmark, the remnant of a vertical tuff cone formation, rises almost 500 feet from the ocean. Erosion gives the rock its characteristic shape, which some see as a sleeping African lion, or Leon Dormido in Spanish. Within the rich waters, you can search for creatures like sea turtles, sea lions, and Galapagos sharks. So don’t forget your underwater cameras in this incredible location.

Puerto Grande

Puerto Grande is a well-protected little cove with a beautiful white sand beach suitable for swimming, birdwatching, or stretching your legs with a walk along the scenic coastline. Hermit crabs are a very common sight here, covering the area near the lagoons behind the beach. The cove is also a blue-footed booby feeding area. Occasionally you can find a sea lion or two lazily resting on the beach, making for a picture-perfect moment.

Puerto Ayora

Situated on the island of Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora is by far the largest town in the Galápagos and is the center of the tourism industry for the islands. It is also the home of the Galápagos National Park headquarters and the Charles Darwin Research Station. The town has several hotels, bars, and restaurants as well as numerous other amenities. Why not take a stroll to the fish market of Puerto Ayora and delight yourself as hungry sea lions and sea birds pester the workers for a fish or two? Or perhaps head down to the pier after dinner to watch tired sea lions resting on the park benches.

Santa Cruz Highlands

With an area of 381 square miles, Santa Cruz is the second-largest island in the Galápagos archipelago and has a maximum altitude of 2,835 feet. Due to the altitude, the highlands of Santa Cruz provide you with a nice break from the ocean and marine life. Admire this unique habitat with Galápagos tortoises, Darwin’s finches, and many other unique animals that call this place home. If you are an avid birdwatcher, the highlands offer a great chance to identify more than eight species of finches, some warblers, and, of course, the elusive vermilion flycatcher.

North Seymour Island

This small island will definitely leave a lasting impression with its abundance of wildlife. North Seymour is known for the large colonies of frigatebirds that can be found nesting there. Two species, the magnificent and great frigatebirds, inhabit the island. Watch your step for blue-footed boobies and land iguanas patrolling the area. Along the coastal trail, observe sea lions resting on the sandy beach. If you are lucky, you might see a few sea lion pups along the trail.

Bachas Beach

Bachas Beach sits on the northern part of Santa Cruz Island. It consists of two beaches with a mix of coral, shells and bones giving it a white sandy appearance. The name dates from the end of World War II when the United States Army abandoned their fleet of barges and two floated ashore here. This site is an excellent place to observe migratory birds. Search for flamingos, common stilts, and white-cheeked pintail ducks in the two brackish water lagoons that lie behind the beaches.

Tortuga Bay

Savor the sights and sounds of Tortuga Bay. Along the trail to the white sand beaches, listen to the melodic tunes of yellow warblers and Galápagos mockingbirds as they dart between the trees. Keep your eyes on the ground, where red-throated lava lizards and sometimes giant tortoises scurry around the dry-brush habitat. Observe the huge lava flows, palo santo forests, and prickly pear cactuses that surround you. At the beach, marine iguanas can easily be spotted catching the sun or going for a swim in the ocean. If you approach the rocks along the shore, observe the colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs and the blue-footed boobies and pelicans diving into the ocean for fish.

Charles Darwin Research Station

Learn about the conservation efforts happening throughout the Galapagos at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. At the giant tortoise breeding center, observe baby tortoises from various islands in the archipelago. A special highlight showcased here is the embalmed body of Lonesome George, the last known tortoise species from the island of Pinta. It is also your one and only chance to observe the shell shapes of the different species of giant tortoise located in the various corrals on the site.

Charles Darwin Foundation is a nonprofit organization and the work we carry out depends entirely upon our donors. Additionally, the Charles Darwin Foundation has just renewed its agreement with the Government of Ecuador in July 2016 for 25 more years of science in the archipelago.

Los Gemelos

Marvel at the geological spectacle of Los Gemelos, a pair of large sinkholes surrounded by Scalesia forest, up in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The collapse of the volcanic roof of an empty magma chamber created these large chasms into the depths of the earth. Many plant species like bromeliads, orchids, mosses, and lichens inhabit this region. You can also find the famous vermilion flycatcher, one of the rarest bird sightings in the Galapagos archipelago, along with a number of finches ranging from vegetarian finches, tree finches, and woodpecker finches. This short walk offers much to be seen for birdwatchers and lovers of geology.

Baltra Island (Departure)

After spending your pleasant days in Galapagos and you are returning to Guayaquil or Quito from Baltra, you must take into account certain recommendations. If your trip was aboard a yacht and on the same day that your trip ends, you return to the mainland, the company in charge of your cruise will normally provide and makes the bus service's arrangements to go to the Itabaca Channel, then cross by ferry to Baltra and finally, by bus go to the airport of Baltra Island. This whole journey takes at least a couple of hours, so you must coordinate with your naturalist guide the departure time from Puerto Ayora. In case your trip ends in Baltra, the trip to the airport is much faster (approximately 15 minutes) than from Puerto Ayora. You must disembark at Aeolian Bay and wait for a bus to the airport. The Naturalist Guide of your yacht will give you the corresponding indications. Be clear that the bus you take on Baltra Island counts USD $ 5.00 per person.