General Information
Only five islands are inhabited and Santa Cruz has the largest population of them all. It has a central location and the largest town Puerto Ayora has been the place that tourists visit the most. All sorts of vegetation can be found on this island, although much of the native flora has disappeared, due to the introduction of new plant species on the island. A great variety of bird species can be found here, probably the highest in entire Galapagos. The southeast part of the island faces the trade winds and therefore this part is much better.
Puerto Ayora
Almost every visitor that comes to the Galapagos Islands will include a visit to Puerto Ayora. Not only because of the Charles Darwin Research Station, but also because it is the main center of the Galapagos. Besides that this may be your only opportunity to buy souvenirs. The bay is full of boats and you can observe many bird species and land iguanas. Puerto Ayora offers a variety of hotels and restaurants for the people that want to stay a little bit longer.
Charles Darwin Research Station
This research laboratory is located near to the town of Puerto Ayora and is directed by scientists from several countries, who are involved in the study and protection of fauna and flora of the islands. The evolution that the islands have undergone since the formation can be seen here too. It also shows the animals that have been introduced to the different areas and possible solutions to protect them against extinction. Raising the Galapagos Giant Tortoises in captivity is the most important project the Galapagos National Park is involved with. The Charles Darwin Station carries this out. This program has enabled the return of many tortoises into their natural habitat.
The Charles Darwin Station is also home of several adult giant tortoises, which have been found in other parts of the world and are later brought back to their habitats of origin. If you arrive by sea you will notice that there are huge marine iguanas on the dock.
While exploring this area you will have the chance to see a lot of varieties of Darwin finches and mocking birds. The visiting time for this place is about 2 hours.
Twin Craters (Los Gemelos)
You can visit the Twin Craters from Puerto Ayora by bus. Here you will descend into one of the miracles of Mother Nature. These craters collapsed because of the weight of the overlying rocks. Right now, this area is overgrown with vegetation and you can observe flycatchers and the amazing ‘woodpecker’ finch.
Lava Tunnels (Bellavista)
The tunnels are located about 3km away from Puerto Ayora and these tunnels were born after a number of volcanic eruptions. The walk through the tunnels can be quite difficult because of the darkness. It is better if you use a flashlight, which will be provided by your guide. There are more lava tubes to find if you follow the signs ‘los tuneles’. However you have to be careful when entering the tunnels, because the roof seems to be very unstable.
Bachas Beach
The charming Bachas beach is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. This is the part where the pacific green sea turtles nest and lay eggs, especially from November to February, so be careful to follow your guide, as you don’t want to step on one of the nests. Near the beach is a salt lagoon where you can see a flamingo population. Bachas beach is also perfect for swimming and here you can find marine iguanas resting on the rocks and hermit crabs in the sand. Visiting this island takes about 2 hours.
The Tortoise Reserve
This tortoise reserve is a great opportunity to see giant tortoises in the wild. On the way to the reserve you can also see turtles grazing next to cows! Also several bird-species can be observed here like the flycatchers and the dark-billed cuckoo. Be sure to take waterproof boots and the most important thing is to bring a lot of water. It can be very hot, especially when we get back, because we’ll have to walk uphill. In the forest, it can be a little bit difficult to spot wildlife, because the forest is very dense.
Tortuga (Turtle) bay
This bay has a beautiful white-sand beach, approximately 1 hour away from Puerto Ayora by foot. This beach is quiet because of its location. The sunsets are spectacular here, but be careful in the water as the undertow is very strong. For surfers, the cove a little bit further west is safer and calmer. On the side of the beach, there’s a big lagoon where brown pelicans and flamingos live protected by mangroves. Sharks are commonly seen here at this spot in the sea. On the other side, the coast is exposed to wind and rolling waves, so be careful when you have to swim to the shore. (Notice: there are no shops to buy food or drinks, so be sure to bring you own).
Santa Rosa
You can take a bus to the little town Santa Rosa and take a nice walk. You may see the barn owl and the Galapagos hawk, but also look for the pair of sink holes on the road to Baltra.
Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove)
This island is perfect to see Pacific green turtles, although it is not allowed to land here. We can only enter a sheltered area with a dinghy and admire a turtle’s head coming up once in a while. From December to March, these beautiful animals breed here in peace and quiet.
Also white-tipped reef sharks are often seen here. These are not the only animals we can observe, because if we are lucky, we can see the amazing eagle ray and golden rays sliding under the dinghy! This place is special and is very different from other places in the Galapagos.
Las Grietas
Las Grietas gorge is a small pool suitable for bathers. From Punta Estrada it’s a 5-minute walk to a public path, where you’ll have to follow a clear path on the left side of the lagoon. Approximately 15 minutes later you’ll arrive at Las Grietas and it is definitely worth the trip!
The highlands
If you want to explore the highlands it is advisable to take a guide with you. Take a rain jacket as it can get muddy and misty. On your way you can observe giant bamboo trees and dense miconia vegetation. Two highlights of the highlands are Media Luna, which is an eroded volcano cone and Cerro Crocker. This is the highest point of the islands and with clear weather you’ll have a magnificent view on the entire archipelago!
If you want a professional guided tour on the island to the higher grounds, you can always contact ATC. These tours will include highland ranches such as Rancho Mariposa and Rancho Altair. There is also a possibility to book aquatic tours in glass-bottom boats to view marine life in Punta Estrada, Las Grietas, Isla Caamaño, Playa de los Perros and Franklin Bay. Be prepared to see birds, sea lions, marine iguanas and various marine life.