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The Ultimate Santa Cruz Island Guide: Best Things to do in Santa Cruz 2026

Santa Cruz is the central hub of the Galapagos, famous for its giant tortoises and white sand beaches. In this guide I share the best things to do in Santa Cruz Galapagos, from walking the Tortuga Bay trail, swimming at Las Grietas volcanic crevice, touring the Charles Darwin Research Centre or taking a Pinzon Island boat tour.

I skipped the expensive cruise packages and explored this island on my own to find the best local spots. Whether you are looking for marine wildlife or a relaxing island escape these tips from my own experience will help you plan your trip with absolute confidence.

Read my Land Based Galapagos 10 Night Guide!

Read my Ultimate 2 Week Travel Guide for Mainland Ecuador!

One of the best things to do in Santa Cruz Galapagos is watch a golden sunset glowing over the ocean harbour filled with anchored local tour boats and water taxis near the main pier.

Santa Cruz

The Ultimate Santa Cruz Island Guide: Best Things to do in Santa Cruz 2026

The Galapagos Islands are incredibly safe and violent crime is almost non existent. Petty theft is very rare on Santa Cruz but you should still lock your room and watch your bags at the pier. Your biggest safety concern will be the wildlife because male sea lions and marine iguanas can get defensive if you walk too close. Always maintain a 2 metre distance from all animals and stick to the marked paths when hiking on your own.

You cannot fly directly to the islands from overseas. I booked a flight from mainland Ecuador first. You can fly out from Quito or Guayaquil but I recommend Quito. Locals warned us not to stay in Guayaquil because it was unsafe. I chose to fly into Baltra Island which is the main gateway to Santa Cruz. The plane did a layover in Guayaquil but we stayed seated on the plane while passengers left and new ones boarded.

Before you check in at the mainland airport you must pay USD $20 for a transit control card. When you land in the Galapagos you will also pay a USD $200 park entrance fee in cash.

Puerto Ayora is the biggest town on the islands and it is the best place to start your trip. I stayed here for 3 nights to base myself close to the main docks. The town centre is packed with lively cafes and independent shops. You can walk straight to the Tortuga Bay trail from town to see sharks and marine iguanas.

We stayed in a private room that cost USD $156 total for the 3 nights. It was a reasonable price, within walking distance to the pier and right near restaurant street for cheap dinners.

The Galapagos Islands are incredibly safe and violent crime is almost non existent. Petty theft is very rare on Santa Cruz but you should still lock your room and watch your bags at the pier. Your biggest safety concern will be the wildlife because male sea lions and marine iguanas can get defensive if you walk too close. Always maintain a 2 metre distance from all animals and stick to the marked paths when hiking on your own.

You cannot fly directly to the islands from overseas. I booked a flight from mainland Ecuador first. You can fly out from Quito or Guayaquil but I recommend Quito. Locals warned us not to stay in Guayaquil because it was unsafe. I chose to fly into Baltra Island which is the main gateway to Santa Cruz. The plane did a layover in Guayaquil but we stayed seated on the plane while passengers left and new ones boarded.

Before you check in at the mainland airport you must pay USD $20 for a transit control card. When you land in the Galapagos you will also pay a USD $200 park entrance fee in cash.

Puerto Ayora is the biggest town on the islands and it is the best place to start your trip. I stayed here for 3 nights to base myself close to the main docks. The town centre is packed with lively cafes and independent shops. You can walk straight to the Tortuga Bay trail from town to see sharks and marine iguanas.

We stayed in a private room that cost USD $156 total for the 3 nights. It was a reasonable price, within walking distance to the pier and right near restaurant street for cheap dinners.

Top Things to do in Santa Cruz: Galapagos 2026 Guide

A large green sea turtle swimming through the crystal clear blue ocean water during a day trip excursion.

1. Charles Darwin Research Centre

The Charles Darwin Research Centre is located a 15 minute walk from the town centre and it is an excellent place to start your trip. The guided tour costs USD $10 per person and takes around 2 hours to complete. You will walk along paths to see giant tortoises and learn about the active breeding programmes that saved these creatures.

On the short walk to the entrance you will likely spot marine iguanas and sea lions sleeping right on the footpath. After your tour finishes you can walk 5 minutes down the trail to sunbathe at Playa de la Estacion. This small beach is a fantastic spot to see bright red crabs, sea lions sunbathing and watch marine iguanas swimming in the sea.

Pro Tip: You can only go to the information centre without a tour guide and not actually in the grounds where the tortoises are so I recommend getting a guide.

3 massive prehistoric giant tortoises gathering around a dirt feeding area inside a large walled conservation enclosure.
The main information building at the national park headquarters surrounded by green trees and volcanic stone paths.

2. Hike the Tortuga Bay Trail to Playa Mansa

The Tortuga Bay trail is a flat paved pathway through a cactus forest that takes 45 minutes to walk each way. Before you start the trek you must register at the ranger booth which costs USD $10 per person. The main beach has the whitest sand and looks beautiful but you cannot swim there because the ocean currents are dangerous.

You must walk to the very end of the beach to reach Playa Mansa. This area is a mangrove cove where you can safely swim and snorkel and have a chance of seeing tiny sharks if you are lucky! You can also rent a double kayak on the beach for USD $10 to look for white tip reef sharks a bit further out. Watch your step on the path because large marine iguanas love to sunbathe in the middle of the walkway in the most inconvenient places (lol).

Pro Tip: You can always do this on your layover day when travelling between Isabela and San Cristobal so do not stay an extra day on Santa Cruz just to fit this in.

A vast completely empty stretch of brilliant white sand beach meeting the rough blue waves of the open ocean under a bright sky.

3. Snorkel on a Pinzon Island Boat Tour

Booking a Pinzon Island boat tour is the best day trip you can do from Puerto Ayora. I paid USD $140 per person for a mini yacht excursion that included a great lunch spread, constant snacks and GoPro photos. The snorkelling on this tour was really fun and I got to swim alongside massive rays, playful sea lions and white tip reef sharks. The marine life is very curious and will swim right up to your mask. It is a full day out on the water and well worth the money if you want to do a tour on Santa Cruz.

If you are going to the other islands then I would skip a tour here as I personally preferred all the other island tours (this is from a snorkelling perspective, I cannot comment on scuba diving).

Pro Tip: Do not go for the cheapest tour, we paid USD $5 more but got food, photos and a mini yacht included where the other tour was USD $5 cheaper and did not include any of this.

A large school of bright colourful tropical fish swimming around dark volcanic rocks underwater in clear ocean water.
A backpacker diving deep down into the clear blue ocean water towards a large white tip reef shark resting on the sandy seabed.

4. The Santa Cruz Highlands and El Chato Tortoise Reserve

Many travellers take a short taxi ride up into the highlands to visit El Chato Tortoise Reserve. This is a private farm where you can walk through open fields right next to hundreds of giant tortoises roaming in the wild. Most highland day trips also include a stop to walk inside the massive underground lava tunnels and view the Los Gemelos twin volcanic craters.

5. Swim in the Las Grietas Volcanic Crevice

To visit Las Grietas volcanic crevice you must take a water taxi from the main pier which costs USD $4 round trip. After the boat drops you off you will walk past Playa de los Alemanes to reach the canyon. My biggest tip is to book the 9am time slot because you can enjoy the water before the massive tour crowds arrive.

You will pay a USD $12 entry fee which includes a guide. The volcanic rock walls look incredible from down in the water and there are loads of large fish swimming beneath you. Make sure you bring your own snorkel from home because buying an emergency snorkel in town cost me USD $55 when I forgot mine.

Pro Tip: Guides only depart every hour on the hour (9am, 10am etc). If you arrive late you must wait for the next slot so factor this into your timings for the day.

A swimmer diving down into the crystal clear brackish water inside the steep volcanic rock canyon walls.
The dramatic rock canyon walls and clear turquoise water of Las Grietas in Santa Cruz

6. The Puerto Ayora Fish Market

Located right on the main street heading towards the conservation centre, this tiny open air fish market is a hilarious spot for free wildlife viewing. Pelicans and sea lions crowd right around the benches, fighting over the fish scraps while the local fishermen chop up the daily catch. I stood and watched a local lady trying to scale and de-bone her fish while a cheeky sea lion and a pelican tried to sneak up behind her multiple times to steal it (lol).

7. Relax at Playa de los Alemanes

You will pass Playa de los Alemanes on your morning walk to Las Grietas and it is the perfect spot to sunbathe afterwards and chill for the rest of the day. The resident ducks on this beach have zero fear of humans and will run straight up to you to sit on your towel. Just remember that you must never touch or feed them (I did take a selfie though).

A small resident duck standing on the sand at Playa de los Alemanes right next to where beach towels are laid out.
A travel blogger taking a selfie with a duck on the beach trail leading to Las Grietas.

8. Watch the Sunset at the Pier with a Local Beer

Every evening you should head down to the supermarket by the main pier to grab some cheap drinks. You can sit right by the water to watch the sunset and see the sea lions get incredibly active. They love to play in the waves created by the taxi boats and tour boats returning to the docks for the night.

A golden sunset glowing over the ocean harbour filled with anchored local tour boats and water taxis near the main pier.
A large Galapagos pelican sitting on the wooden pier in Santa Cruz Island

9. Playa de la Estacion

I would recommend coming here after the Charles Darwin centre as it is a 5 minute walk from the end of the tour. I saw bright red crabs, sea lions and iguanas swimming. It is a nice way to spend a couple of hours chilling while still seeing marine life without spending money.

A vibrant bright red Sally Lightfoot crab crawling over the dark volcanic rocks at Playa de la Estacion near the conservation grounds.
A large black native marine iguana using its long tail to swim smoothly through the surface of the clear ocean water.

10. Restaurant Street

I headed out for a budget dinner in town on restaurant street every single evening of my stay. I ate here daily because it is easily the best place to find cheap food in Puerto Ayora. You can find a local restaurant serving a traditional menu del dia for just USD $10 per person. This set meal usually includes a starter soup, a main plate of fresh fish or chicken with rice and a soft drink.

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A wild sea lion lying on the white sand and lifting its flippers into the air to complete a massive stretch.
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If you are flying out of Quito to explore the Galapagos Islands and want to do this on a budget rather than an incredibly expensive yacht cruise then read my dedicated posts.

We did the entire trip on a budget by island hopping the 3 main islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal on our own! I have written a dedicated post breaking down our exact budget itinerary, how to book the cheap local public ferries, the tours worth spending your money on and how to see the best wildlife for free without a guide.

Read my Land Based Galapagos 10 Night Guide!
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If you are flying out of Quito to explore the Galapagos Islands and want to do this on a budget rather than an incredibly expensive yacht cruise then read my dedicated posts.

We did the entire trip on a budget by island hopping the 3 main islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal on our own! I have written a dedicated post breaking down our exact budget itinerary, how to book the cheap local public ferries, the tours worth spending your money on and how to see the best wildlife for free without a guide.

Read my Land Based Galapagos 10 Night Guide!

Where to next?

I am constantly discovering new hidden gems and sharing the magic of the world in real time. If you would like to follow my journey through 44 countries and beyond, join me on social media. Whether you are looking for daily travel inspiration or honest travel advice for your next big adventure, I would love to have you as part of the Where Katie Goes community. Let us explore the world together.

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