The population is mostly centered in the port city of Puerto Ayora. The Galapagos' main airport on Baltra island is a short 10-minute bus ride ($5) and ($1) ferry ride from Santa Cruz. Tortuga Bay is also known for … However, you can take the ferry to San Cristobal, take the walk to San Cristobal, then take the plane to Baltra Island. On the other side, on Santa Cruz Island there are always taxis and shuttles waiting for business. The Baltra airport was originally constructed by the U.S. military during World War II as a base to protect the Panama Canal from enemy attack. The highlands of Santa Cruz Island provide important attractions due to its climate and vegetation. You can travel from Baltra Island Airport (GPS) to Santa Cruz Island with a combination of flights, trains and ferries, which takes around 26h 14m. From an aircraft flying out of Baltra Island (on the right) and the Santa Cruz (on the left), the Itabaca Channel is the waterway in the middle where water taxi´s take people in between and to waiting boats off shore waiting for multi day cruises. At the Baltra airport, our staff will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel located on Santa Cruz Island. Transportation to either Santa Cruz Island or your cruise ship is provided at the airport. Those visitors planning land-based visit Staying on Santa Cruz board the bus departing the airport for the Itabaca Cannel (approximately a 10-minute ride). Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket … Baltra is only the airport island, no taxis or cars there. The San Cristobal Island is very close to town, but landing at the Baltra Island airport means transferrin from Batra airport to Puerto Ayora. When you finally take your trip of a lifetime and visit the Galapagos Islands, you have the option of arriving at one of two islands: San Cristobal Island, or Baltra Island. Most cruise operators also start their cruise operations from Baltra Island. Upon arrival, Galapagos Park Fees (or the receipt of paid Park Fees) is collected at the Kiosk. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Puerto Ayora to Baltra Island Airport (GPS) via Santa Cruz Ferry Terminal, Santa Cruz Ferry Terminal, Baltra Ferry Terminal, Baltra Island, and San Cristobal in around 3h 17m. Transfers to Santa Cruz Island: Land transfer services are available from Baltra to nearby Santa Cruz. Transferring from Baltra Island to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island The Baltra airport is often called the Santa Cruz airport because there’s nothing to do on Baltra Island. Santa Cruz has the largest human population any of the few islands that people inhabit. The bus brings you to the channel between Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. Rome2rio has found 8 ways to get from Baltra Island Airport (GPS) to Santa Cruz Island by flight, train, ferry and bus. Santa Cruz is the main tourism hub for all of Galapagos, given its proximity to the airport on Baltra to the north. There are 7 ways to get from Baltra Island to Santa Cruz Island by plane, train, ferry or bus. That being said, Santa Cruz is known for being the livelier of the two choices, and offers more in term of restaurants, shopping, and services in general. The cheapest way to get from Baltra Island to Santa Cruz costs only $1,058, and the quickest way takes just 16½ hours. Mosquera (foreground), Baltra and Santa Cruz Your flight from Quito or Guayaquil lands at either Baltra or San Cristobal airports in the Galapagos Islands. Then you take a quick ferry transfer across (very close, only a few minutes). From there the ferry drops you off you need to … Find the travel option that best suits you. Rome2rio has found 8 ways to get from Baltra Island Airport (GPS) to Santa Cruz Island by flight, train, ferry and bus. First of all, no matter which island you choose, you won’t be disappointed, both are great! Also, because of its proximity to the largest port town in the Galapagos Islands (Puerto Ayora) most tourists who do island-based tours choose to arrive to the airport on Baltra Island. It is the only island in Galapagos where tourists can readily experience the interior and higher elevations of a Galapagos island. You must use a bus shuttle. If heading to Santa Cruz, you are taken by bus to a water taxi which will take you across the Itabaca Channel to the island. After lunch we will have the first visit, to El Chato Reserve.