Galápagos Fur Seal
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Buccaneer Cove · Puerto Egas
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
The Galápagos Cruise · Regions · Central
Central Galápagos Cruises: Santa Cruz, Santiago and Bartolomé
US$1,710
per guest, double occupancy
85
itineraries in the region
16
ships
2,067
departures with space
3 to 14
nights
24
visitor sites
About the central islands
Central Galápagos itineraries visit Santa Cruz, Santiago and Bartolomé and are built around giant tortoises, lava fields and the view from Pinnacle Rock. Landing sites typically include Sullivan Bay, Black Turtle Cove, Dragon Hill, Los Gemelos and the Charles Darwin Station.
The central islands are the practical first Galápagos trip: the shortest transfers, the widest choice of departures and the giant tortoises most visitors come to see. They appear on more circuits than any other region, and even so each departure follows one approved itinerary, so Bartolomé or Black Turtle Cove is a question of the week and not of the ship alone.
Visitor sites in this region
Bachas Beach · Baltra Airport (Arrival) · Baltra Airport (Departure) · Bartolomé Summit · Black Turtle Cove · Bowditch Point · Buccaneer Cove · Charles Darwin Station · Chinese Hat · Daphne Major · Dragon Hill · Eden Islet · Espumilla Beach · Gordon Rocks · Mosquera Islet · Pinnacle Rock · Puerto Egas · Punta Carrión · Rábida Beach · Santa Cruz Highlands · South Plaza Trail · Sullivan Bay · Tortuga Bay · Twin Craters (Los Gemelos)
The 9 islands of this region
A region is not a route name. It is a group of islands, and each of them has its own page with its own departures.
The islands of this region
The rest of the archipelago
Santa Cruz
83 itineraries · 11 visitor sites
The centre of the archipelago, with the Charles Darwin Research Station and giant tortoises roaming the highlands.
Baltra
79 itineraries · 2 visitor sites
Santiago
57 itineraries · 4 visitor sites
Black lava flows and eroded tide pools at Puerto Egas, where Galápagos fur seals rest in the shade of the rock arches.
Bartolomé
44 itineraries · 2 visitor sites
Probably the most photographed island in the archipelago. From the summit you look out over Pinnacle Rock and the golden bays behind it.
South Plaza
41 itineraries · 1 visitor sites
A narrow uplifted islet carpeted in red sesuvium, with land iguanas beneath the cactus and swallow-tailed gulls nesting on the cliffs.
Rábida
34 itineraries · 1 visitor sites
The red island, its beach coloured by iron-rich lava, with a saltwater lagoon that often draws flamingos.
Chinese Hat
33 itineraries · 1 visitor sites
A small volcanic cone off Santiago named for its shape, ringed by clear channels where penguins and white-tipped reef sharks patrol.
Mosquera
20 itineraries · 1 visitor sites
A low sand bar between Baltra and North Seymour holding one of the largest sea lion colonies in the archipelago.
Daphne Major
1 itineraries · 1 visitor sites
Select a departure through the Central region
2,067 upcoming departures with space, across 85 itineraries and 16 ships. Sold-out dates are not listed.
03/10/20266 nights
Treasure · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas
back 09/10/2026 · 2 spots
from US$5,576Ask about this date
06/10/20266 nights
Solaris · 7-Day Western Islands: Las Tintoreras' Reef Sharks
back 12/10/2026 · 4 spots
from US$5,266Ask about this date
17/10/20266 nights
Treasure · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas
back 23/10/2026 · 5 spots
from US$5,266Ask about this date
20/10/20266 nights
Solaris · 7-Day Western Islands: Las Tintoreras' Reef Sharks
back 26/10/2026 · 9 spots
from US$5,266Ask about this date
29/10/20266 nights
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
back 04/11/2026 · 7 spots
from US$7,916Ask about this date
31/10/20266 nights
Treasure · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas
back 06/11/2026 · 2 spots
from US$6,195Ask about this date
03/11/20266 nights
Solaris · 7-Day Western Islands: Las Tintoreras' Reef Sharks
back 09/11/2026 · 2 spots
from US$6,195Ask about this date
08/11/20266 nights
Bonita · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos
back 14/11/2026 · 1 spot
from US$4,135Ask about this date
12/11/20266 nights
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
back 18/11/2026 · 6 spots
from US$7,916Ask about this date
28/11/20266 nights
Treasure · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas
back 04/12/2026 · 4 spots
from US$6,195Ask about this date
12/12/20266 nights
Treasure · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas
back 18/12/2026 · 1 spot
from US$5,576Ask about this date
24/12/20266 nights
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
back 30/12/2026 · 1 spot
from US$10,114Ask about this date
03/01/20276 nights
Bonita · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos
back 09/01/2027 · 5 spots
from US$4,560Ask about this date
07/01/20276 nights
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
back 13/01/2027 · 6 spots
from US$9,250Ask about this date
17/01/20276 nights
Bonita · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos
back 23/01/2027 · 2 spots
from US$4,800Ask about this date
26/01/20276 nights
Solaris · 7-Day Western Islands: Las Tintoreras' Reef Sharks
back 01/02/2027 · 2 spots
from US$6,495Ask about this date
31/01/20276 nights
Bonita · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos
back 06/02/2027 · 2 spots
from US$4,800Ask about this date
04/02/20276 nights
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
back 10/02/2027 · 6 spots
from US$9,250Ask about this date
14/02/20276 nights
Bonita · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos
back 20/02/2027 · 3 spots
from US$4,800Ask about this date
18/02/20276 nights
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
back 24/02/2027 · 16 spots
from US$9,250Ask about this date
28/02/20276 nights
Bonita · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos
back 06/03/2027 · 3 spots
from US$4,800Ask about this date
04/03/20276 nights
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
back 10/03/2027 · 14 spots
from US$9,250Ask about this date
09/03/20276 nights
Solaris · 7-Day Western Islands: Las Tintoreras' Reef Sharks
back 15/03/2027 · 1 spot
from US$6,495Ask about this date
14/03/20276 nights
Bonita · 7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos
back 20/03/2027 · 1 spot
from US$4,800Ask about this date
Show more departures24 of 144 shown
Wildlife you can see here
36 of the 39 species recorded in this region have a photo. What differs between them is how sure a sighting is and which of the 24 visitor sites you have to reach for it. The map on each card shows where in the archipelago that is.
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month
See these departures
Galápagos Giant Tortoise
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Bartolomé Summit · Charles Darwin Station · Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Galápagos Land Iguana
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Dragon Hill · South Plaza Trail
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Galápagos Sea Lion
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Bartolomé Summit · Buccaneer Cove · Chinese Hat · Mosquera Islet · Rábida Beach · South Plaza Trail
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Golden Cownose Ray
Where in this region
Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Pacific Green Sea Turtle
Where in this region
Bachas Beach · Bartolomé Summit · Black Turtle Cove · Buccaneer Cove · Espumilla Beach · Pinnacle Rock
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Swallow-tailed Gull
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
South Plaza Trail
JFMAMJJASOND
Likely, all year
Brown Pelican
Where in this region
Black Turtle Cove · South Plaza Trail
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Darwin's Finches
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Charles Darwin Station · Rábida Beach · Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Galápagos Dove
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Rábida Beach
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Galápagos Hawk
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Puerto Egas
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Galápagos Penguin
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Chinese Hat · Pinnacle Rock
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Galápagos Shearwater
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
South Plaza Trail
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Lava Heron
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Black Turtle Cove · Mosquera Islet
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Magnificent Frigatebird
Where in this region
Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Marine Iguana
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
South Plaza Trail
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Red-billed Tropicbird
Where in this region
South Plaza Trail
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Scalloped Hammerhead
Where in this region
Gordon Rocks
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
Spotted Eagle Ray
Where in this region
Black Turtle Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
White-tipped Reef Shark
Where in this region
Black Turtle Cove · Pinnacle Rock · Tortuga Bay
JFMAMJJASOND
Possible, all year
American Flamingo
Where in this region
Bachas Beach · Dragon Hill · Rábida Beach
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Blue-footed Booby
Where in this region
Mosquera Islet · Pinnacle Rock · Punta Carrión
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Barn Owl
Where in this region
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Bullhead Shark
Where in this region
Buccaneer Cove
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Mockingbird
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Rábida Beach
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Petrel
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Galápagos Rail
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Lava Gull
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Mosquera Islet
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Red-lipped Batfish
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Gordon Rocks
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
Vermilion Flycatcher
Only in Galápagos
Where in this region
Santa Cruz Highlands
JFMAMJJASOND
Rare, all year
36 of 36 species with photos shown
Questions about this region
Questions that only concern this region. Everything that applies to a Galápagos trip in general is answered on the general page.
What makes a central itinerary different?+
The centre is where the archipelago is easiest to reach and hardest to avoid: 83 of the 97 itineraries touch Santa Cruz and 79 touch Baltra, because both carry the airports. What you go for is on the islands around them. Bartolomé holds Pinnacle Rock, Santiago the lava field at Sullivan Bay, South Plaza the land iguanas under the cactus, and the giant tortoises are in the Santa Cruz highlands from January to May.
How many nights do I need for the centre?+
Itineraries run from 3 to 14 nights. Of the 2,214 upcoming departures with space, 619 are 4 nights, 310 are 7 nights and 280 are 14 nights. Because the airports are here, even the shortest trips reach the region.
When is the best time for the central islands?+
Good all year. The giant tortoises are most active in the highlands from January to May, which is also the warmer season with calmer water. From June to November the sea is cooler and rougher, and the crossings to the outer islands are longer.
Do I see the centre on every itinerary anyway?+
Almost. 85 of the 97 itineraries touch at least one island of this region, most of them because they start or end at Baltra. What differs is whether they only pass through or actually land: Sullivan Bay, Pinnacle Rock and Dragon Hill are proper visits, and not every week includes them.
Which of the nine islands will I actually reach?+
The region has 24 visitor sites across nine islands, and no single itinerary calls at all of them. Each departure follows one approved circuit that is fixed for that week. Tell us your dates and we will say which islands that week reaches.
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from US$1,710
2067 departures