Central Galápagos Cruises: Santa Cruz, Santiago and Bartolomé

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.

Itineraries run from 3 to 14 nights. Of the 2,753 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.

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.

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.

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.