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.
24/09/20264 nights
Alya · 5-Day Northern & Western: Bartolome's Endemic Plant
back 28/09/2026 · 4 spots
from US$4,140Ask about this date
24/09/20264 nights
Archipel I · 5-Day Western Islands: Puerto Egas' Fur Seal Colony
back 28/09/2026 · 2 spots
from US$2,966Ask about this date
25/09/20264 nights
Treasure · 5-Day Northern & Western: Punta Pitt's Triple Boobies
back 29/09/2026 · 3 spots
from US$3,320Ask about this date
26/09/20264 nights
Galaxy Orion · 5-Day Western & Southern: San Cristobal's Highlands
back 30/09/2026 · 2 spots
from US$2,120Ask about this date
28/09/20264 nights
Solaris · 5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana
back 02/10/2026 · 11 spots
from US$3,320Ask about this date
29/09/20264 nights
Treasure · 5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl
back 03/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$3,735Ask about this date
02/10/20264 nights
Solaris · 5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks
back 06/10/2026 · 13 spots
from US$3,320Ask about this date
04/10/20264 nights
MONIQUE · 5-Day Southern & Western: Kicker Rock's Swim Channel
back 08/10/2026 · 6 spots
from US$4,152Ask about this date
06/10/20264 nights
Galaxy Sirius · 5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony
back 10/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$5,130Ask about this date
07/10/20264 nights
Galaxy Stella · 5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel
back 11/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$3,840Ask about this date
08/10/20264 nights
Archipel I · 5-Day Western Islands: Puerto Egas' Fur Seal Colony
back 12/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$2,966Ask about this date
09/10/20264 nights
Treasure · 5-Day Northern & Western: Punta Pitt's Triple Boobies
back 13/10/2026 · 5 spots
from US$3,735Ask about this date
12/10/20264 nights
Solaris · 5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana
back 16/10/2026 · 5 spots
from US$3,528Ask about this date
13/10/20264 nights
Treasure · 5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl
back 17/10/2026 · 2 spots
from US$3,735Ask about this date
15/10/20264 nights
Archipel I · 5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Bold Mockingbird
back 19/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$3,295Ask about this date
16/10/20264 nights
Solaris · 5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks
back 20/10/2026 · 5 spots
from US$4,150Ask about this date
18/10/20264 nights
MONIQUE · 5-Day Southern & Western: Kicker Rock's Swim Channel
back 22/10/2026 · 7 spots
from US$4,152Ask about this date
20/10/20264 nights
ELITE · 5-Day Northern & Western: Darwin Bay's Flooded Caldera
back 24/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$4,952Ask about this date
20/10/20264 nights
Galaxy Sirius · 5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony
back 24/10/2026 · 6 spots
from US$4,845Ask about this date
22/10/20264 nights
Alya · 5-Day Northern & Western: Bartolome's Endemic Plant
back 26/10/2026 · 3 spots
from US$4,370Ask about this date
22/10/20264 nights
Archipel I · 5-Day Western Islands: Puerto Egas' Fur Seal Colony
back 26/10/2026 · 2 spots
from US$2,966Ask about this date
25/10/20264 nights
Tribute · 5-Day Northern & Eastern: Genovesa's Daylight-Hunting Owl
back 29/10/2026 · 2 spots
from US$5,576Ask about this date
26/10/20264 nights
Solaris · 5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana
back 30/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$3,735Ask about this date
27/10/20264 nights
Treasure · 5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl
back 31/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$4,150Ask about this date
Show more departures24 of 581 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
6 of 21 species with photos shownShow all 21
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María Fernanda Ortiz
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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.
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from US$1,710
2033 departures