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.
26/09/20267 nights
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
back 03/10/2026 · 6 spots
from US$7,992Ask about this date
30/09/20267 nights
Galaxy Stella · 8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access
back 07/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$7,140Ask about this date
03/10/20267 nights
Galaxy Orion · 8-Day Western Islands: Isabela's Tortoise Hatchery
back 10/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$3,570Ask about this date
04/10/20267 nights
ENDEMIC · 8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti
back 11/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$7,992Ask about this date
05/10/20267 nights
Archipel I · 8-Day Western Islands: Urbina Bay's Coral Uplift
back 12/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$5,295Ask about this date
08/10/20267 nights
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
back 15/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$6,632Ask about this date
08/10/20267 nights
Archipel I · Archipel I: Route A5B4
back 15/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$5,295Ask about this date
10/10/20267 nights
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
back 17/10/2026 · 6 spots
from US$7,992Ask about this date
12/10/20267 nights
Archipel I · 8-Day Southern & Northern: Prince Philip's Booby Steps
back 19/10/2026 · 1 spot
from US$5,295Ask about this date
14/10/20267 nights
Galaxy Stella · 8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access
back 21/10/2026 · 3 spots
from US$6,720Ask about this date
22/10/20267 nights
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
back 29/10/2026 · 7 spots
from US$6,632Ask about this date
24/10/20267 nights
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
back 31/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$7,992Ask about this date
19/11/20267 nights
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
back 26/11/2026 · 6 spots
from US$6,632Ask about this date
28/11/20267 nights
GRAND OCEAN SPRAY · 8-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Sunfish
back 05/12/2026 · 15 spots
from US$10,745Ask about this date
29/11/20267 nights
ENDEMIC · 8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti
back 06/12/2026 · 2 spots
from US$8,563Ask about this date
02/12/20267 nights
Galaxy Stella · 8-Day Southern Islands: Gardner Bay's Sea Lion Pups
back 09/12/2026 · 6 spots
from US$7,140Ask about this date
03/12/20267 nights
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
back 10/12/2026 · 14 spots
from US$6,632Ask about this date
12/12/20267 nights
GRAND OCEAN SPRAY · 8-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Sunfish
back 19/12/2026 · 2 spots
from US$10,745Ask about this date
13/12/20267 nights
ENDEMIC · 8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti
back 20/12/2026 · 2 spots
from US$9,990Ask about this date
14/12/20267 nights
Archipel I · 8-Day Western Islands: Urbina Bay's Coral Uplift
back 21/12/2026 · 1 spot
from US$5,295Ask about this date
26/12/20267 nights
Galaxy Orion · 8-Day Western Islands: Isabela's Tortoise Hatchery
back 02/01/2027 · 1 spot
from US$6,300Ask about this date
04/01/20277 nights
Archipel I · 8-Day Southern & Northern: Prince Philip's Booby Steps
back 11/01/2027 · 1 spot
from US$4,905Ask about this date
06/01/20277 nights
Galaxy Stella · 8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access
back 13/01/2027 · 6 spots
from US$8,550Ask about this date
07/01/20277 nights
Archipel I · Archipel I: Route B5A4
back 14/01/2027 · 4 spots
from US$5,450Ask about this date
Show more departures24 of 277 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
Your selection
No departure selected yet
Pick one from the list above, then we can check it for you.
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
Tell us who is traveling and we will check this departure for availability.
from US$1,710
2033 departures