Galápagos Giant Tortoise
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Charles Darwin Station · Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
The Galápagos Cruise · Islands · Santa Cruz
Galápagos Cruises to Santa Cruz
US$1,710
per guest, double occupancy
83
itineraries call here
16
ships
2,033
departures with space
3 to 14
nights
11
visitor sites
About Santa Cruz
Giant tortoises in the wet highland pastures above Santa Rosa, two collapsed craters at Los Gemelos with scalesia forest growing inside them, white-tipped reef sharks resting in the mangrove channels of Black Turtle Cove: Santa Cruz is the centre of the archipelago in every practical sense. The Charles Darwin Station sits at the edge of Puerto Ayora, and Tortuga Bay is a forty-minute walk from town. Eighty-three of our itineraries call at Santa Cruz across 16 ships, from $1,530 per person, on trips of 3 to 14 nights.
Almost every circuit touches Santa Cruz, because the island is where guests join and leave a ship. That makes it the easiest island to reach and the least distinctive on a printed itinerary: two departures that both list Santa Cruz can mean the highlands one week and a harbour transfer the next.
Visitor sites on Santa Cruz
Bachas Beach · Black Turtle Cove · Bowditch Point · Charles Darwin Station · Dragon Hill · Eden Islet · Gordon Rocks · Punta Carrión · Santa Cruz Highlands · Tortuga Bay · Twin Craters (Los Gemelos)
Select a departure that calls at Santa Cruz
2,033 upcoming departures with space, across 83 itineraries and 16 ships. Sold-out dates are not listed.
29/09/202610 nights
Treasure · Treasure: Route BC
back 09/10/2026 · 2 spots
from US$10,345Ask about this date
01/10/202610 nights
Tribute · Tribute: Route CA
back 11/10/2026 · 14 spots
from US$13,490Ask about this date
02/10/202610 nights
Solaris · Solaris: Route CA
back 12/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$10,345Ask about this date
03/10/202610 nights
Treasure · Treasure: Route CA
back 13/10/2026 · 2 spots
from US$10,045Ask about this date
05/10/202610 nights
Archipel I · Archipel I: Route AB4
back 15/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$7,475Ask about this date
06/10/202610 nights
Solaris · Solaris: Route AB
back 16/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$10,345Ask about this date
13/10/202610 nights
Treasure · Treasure: Route BC
back 23/10/2026 · 2 spots
from US$10,345Ask about this date
16/10/202610 nights
Solaris · Solaris: Route CA
back 26/10/2026 · 5 spots
from US$10,345Ask about this date
20/10/202610 nights
Solaris · Solaris: Route AB
back 30/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$10,345Ask about this date
25/10/202610 nights
Tribute · Tribute: Route BC
back 04/11/2026 · 2 spots
from US$13,490Ask about this date
27/10/202610 nights
Treasure · Treasure: Route BC
back 06/11/2026 · 2 spots
from US$10,345Ask about this date
29/10/202610 nights
Tribute · Tribute: Route CA
back 08/11/2026 · 7 spots
from US$13,490Ask about this date
Show more departures12 of 192 shown
Wildlife you can see on Santa Cruz
21 of the 23 species recorded on Santa Cruz have a photo. What differs between them is how sure a sighting is and which visitor site you have to reach for it.
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month
See these departures
Golden Cownose Ray
Where on Santa Cruz
Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Pacific Green Sea Turtle
Where on Santa Cruz
Bachas Beach · Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Darwin's Finches
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Charles Darwin Station · Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Galápagos Land Iguana
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Dragon Hill
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Lava Heron
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Magnificent Frigatebird
Where on Santa Cruz
Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Scalloped Hammerhead
Where on Santa Cruz
Gordon Rocks
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Spotted Eagle Ray
Where on Santa Cruz
Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
White-tipped Reef Shark
Where on Santa Cruz
Black Turtle Cove · Tortuga Bay
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
American Flamingo
Where on Santa Cruz
Bachas Beach · Dragon Hill
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Barn Owl
Where on Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Petrel
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Rail
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Red-lipped Batfish
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Gordon Rocks
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Vermilion Flycatcher
Only in Galápagos
Where on Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
21 of 21 species with photos shown
Your selection
Tribute · Tribute: Route BC
25/10/2026 · 10 nights · from US$13,490
María Fernanda Ortiz
We reply within one business day
Prefer to talk? + 1 786 509 6338
We answer first thing on the next working day
María Fernanda Ortiz
We answer personally, and we answer ourselves. A Galápagos trip is once in a lifetime, and you want the right advice before you book.
+ 1 786 509 6338We answer first thing on the next working day
Talk to us
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from US$1,710
2033 departures