Best Things to Do in Santa Cruz Island
Iconic Attractions & Hidden Gem Travel Experiences
Landmarks
Santa Cruz Island Top Travel Experiences & Attractions
Landmarks
Top Tours
Itineraries
Reviews
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Santa Cruz Island
The Galapagos’ most populous and most visited island, Santa Cruz is best known for its giant tortoises, the prehistoric-looking creatures that have survived only in the Galapagos and the Seychelles. Santa Cruz is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station as well as a variety of marine and bird life, including Galapagos sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and frigate birds.
Top Santa Cruz Island Experiences
Viewing giant tortoises as they slowly crawl their way down from the Santa Cruz highlands to the lowlands to mate
Visiting the Darwin Research Station in the town of Puerto Ayora, center of the Galapagos’ conservation efforts
Spotting frigate birds – the “pirates of the sky” – as they swoop through the air lo steal the food from the grasp of other birds.
Watching blue-footed boobies do their “booby dance” as they move their feet in a courting ritual
Keeping a close eye on sea lions as they try to swipe fish from a fishmonger in Puerto Ayora
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Top Santa Cruz Island Tours See all
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Galápagos – West and Central Islands aboard the Reina Silvia Voyager
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small ship cruise
10 days
$ 5,699
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Galápagos – West and Central Islands aboard the Reina Silvia Voyager (Cruise Only) ...
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small ship cruise
8 days
$ 5,212
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Galápagos Island Hopping
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small group tour
9 days
$ 2,639
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Galápagos Express Adventure: Wilderness & Wildlife
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small group tour
7 days
$ 1,049
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Galápagos Island Hopping Land-Only
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small group tour
7 days
$ 2,499
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Upgraded Land Galapagos, Land-Only
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small group tour
7 days
$ 3,399
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Complete Galápagos - Yolita
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small ship cruise
17 days
$ 9,119
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Galápagos — Central, South & East Islands aboard the Yolita
By
G Adventures
Preferred
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ Reviews
Small ship cruise
10 days
$ 3,899
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Santa Cruz Island Tours Reviews & Ratings
Write a reviewTravelstride featured in
- G Adventures Reviews
- Explore! Reviews
- Exoticca Reviews
- Contiki Reviews
- Global Basecamps Reviews
- Discover Corps Reviews
- ROW Sea Kayak Adventures Reviews
- On The Go Tours Reviews
- ROW Adventures Reviews
- Peregrine Adventures Reviews
- Quark Expeditions Reviews
- Destination Ecuador Reviews
- Road Scholar Reviews
- Tauck Reviews
- Great Value Vacations Reviews
- Audley Travel Reviews
- Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
- Cosmos Reviews
Practicalities & Logistics
Useful Links
- Santa Cruz Island's Weather Overview: Live Weather, Forecasts, and Averages
- There are currently no travel advisory alerts about Santa Cruz Island (updated October 6, 2017)
- Additional Information About Santa Cruz Island
Visa Information
| Visa Needed? | Link | |
| US | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Ecuador for United States Citizens |
| UK | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Ecuador for United Kingdom Citizens |
| CA | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Ecuador for Canadian Citizens |
| AU | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Ecuador for Australian Citizens |
| NZ | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Ecuador for New Zealand Citizens |
| IN | N (< 90 days) | Visas to Ecuador for Indian Citizens |
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