---
title: "Santa Cruz Island Cruise Port"
url: https://cruisello.com/destinations/galapagos-islands/santa-cruz-island
description: "Giant tortoises in the highland mist"
---

# Santa Cruz Island

🇪🇨 · Ecuador · Galápagos Islands

> "Giant tortoises in the highland mist"

## At a Glance


## About Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz is the most populated island in the Galápagos. Ships anchor offshore and passengers tender to Puerto Ayora, a small town where giant tortoises occasionally walk through the streets and marine iguanas sit on the docks. The Charles Darwin Research Station, a short walk from the pier, has a tortoise breeding centre and covers the conservation work that brought several species back from near extinction.

El Chato Tortoise Reserve, in the humid highlands, is where wild giant tortoises graze in open fields. Lava tunnels nearby are large enough to walk through. Tortuga Bay, a white-sand beach about a 20-minute walk from town, has kayaking and snorkelling with sea turtles. Las Grietas, a volcanic fissure filled with clear water, is a good swimming spot. In the evening, the fish kiosks along Calle de los Kioskos serve freshly grilled seafood and ceviche at outdoor tables. Cash in US dollars is useful at smaller vendors.

## Quick Facts

- **Currency:** USD (US Dollar)
- **Language:** Spanish
- **Timezone:** Pacific/Galapagos (UTC-6)
- **Tipping:** 10% usually included in bill

## Location

Coordinates: -0.6288, -90.3639

- [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/cruise+terminal+Santa%20Cruz%20Island/@-0.6288151,-90.36388,13z)
- [Open in Apple Maps](https://maps.apple.com/?q=cruise%20terminal%20Santa%20Cruz%20Island&ll=-0.6288151,-90.36388&z=13)

## Things to Do in Santa Cruz Island

| Tour | Rating | Duration | Fits Port Day | From | Provider |
|------|------|------|------|------|------|
| [Day tour to Pinzón Island and La Fé/Palmitas Bay with snorkeling and fishing](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/979f8f1d-b9b5-478c-b6e8-3849ebc20991.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (157) | 7h | – | €226 | Viator |
| [Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/241ccf8f-0cbb-4dd2-b625-2bdbe5c812fd.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (93) | 7h | – | €207 | Viator |
| [Giant Turtle Watching and Lava Tunnels Tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/7e5ff15f-033a-4af3-9763-74011f9f1820.md?via=markdown) | 4.8★ (83) | 3h | – | €36 | Viator |
| [LA PINTA DARWIN’S LEGACY (Fri-Thurs)](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/05e72c0e-b518-481d-8f98-ee3a9420967a.md?via=markdown) | 5★ (49) | 168h | – | €7,306 | Viator |
| [Meet a 150-Year-Old Giant Tortoise in the Galapagos Highlands](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/46bb94fc-99b8-477c-aa3f-a16d3cbe6f72.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (46) | 4h | – | €159 | Viator |
| [BiciTour Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/9842eaa9-f199-4158-aa42-adcdf020e8cd.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (45) | 4h 30m | – | €82 | Viator |
| [Full Day Tour Pinzon Island + La Fe/Las Palmas - Snorkeling & Fishing](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/d6780a8e-f58f-4c4c-bf49-078b46535074.md?via=markdown) | 4.7★ (49) | 7h | – | €159 | Viator |
| [Day Trip to Bartolome Island from Puerto Ayora](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/73b54c3a-ec74-4552-a754-8eb8a748a5d4.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (39) | 8h | – | €348 | Viator |
| [Day Tour to Floreana Island with Snorkeling and Fishing](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/d8e0a0b0-4265-4853-8ebd-7cc22b3793f5.md?via=markdown) | 4.8★ (41) | 9h | – | €235 | Viator |
| [GALAPAGOS in ELECTRIC BICYCLE + Giant Turtles](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/79e94094-8ff6-4f1f-9f61-8b599bc63df0.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (38) | 4h 30m | – | €118 | Viator |
| [ISABELA II NATURAL SELECTION JOURNEY (Fri-Thurs)](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/6e5b11cb-c6fa-42d5-bd50-90d85304f548.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (31) | 168h | – | €5,558 | Viator |
| [LA PINTA ORIGIN OF SPECIES ADVENTURE - SOUTHEASTERN (Thurs-Mon)](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/3bfd531d-7398-4c21-8315-42c658c2664b.md?via=markdown) | 4.8★ (33) | 120h | – | €5,513 | Viator |

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews.

## Nearby Ports

- [Baltra Island](https://cruisello.com/destinations/galapagos-islands/baltra-island.md): 12 nm
- [North Seymour Island](https://cruisello.com/destinations/galapagos-islands/north-seymour-island.md): 15 nm
- [Bartolome Island](https://cruisello.com/destinations/galapagos-islands/bartolome-island.md): 23 nm

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