If you hire a cruise, or stay at the main hotels on the island, they will make all your travel arrangements. If you are traveling on your own, , book your flight from Quito or Guayaquil with Tame or Aerogal. The airlines provide a bus to the Itabaca canal (10 minute ride). From there ferries take you across the canal to Santa Cruz Island for 80 cents. To continue to the town of Puerto Ayora you either take a bus ($1,80) or a taxi ($15) for a 45 minute drive. Along the way you will travel from the arid coastal area through different ecological zones as you ascend to the highlands and then come back to sea level.

The name Santa Cruz means Holy Cross. The first Spanish visitors gave this island a Christian name. This is the main port of entrance to the Archipelago and home to the majority of human inhabitants (aprox. 10,000). Puerto Ayora is the capital of the Island, with exciting places to visit, travel agencies that provide visits to the other Islands, visit to the highlands and the beaches, other special tours,etc. At Puerto Ayora you will also find excellent handicrafts, jewelry shops, art galleries, casual clothing, restaurants, bike rentals, kayaking, diving and snorkeling services (see our services guide) just taking a walk down the Charles Darwin Avenue.