Transfer Airport-hotel in Galapagos Santa Cruz with visit to Giant Tortoises
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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What's Included
- Private transportation from the Itabaca channel (Santa Cruz) to the hotel
- Entrance visit giant tortoises
- Lava Tunnels Entrance
- Bilingual guide certified by the Galapagos National Park
- Itabaca channel ferry ticket.
- Transportation ticket from the Airport to the Itabaca channel
- Tips
- Feeding
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup point
- Baltra AirportEcuador
Pickup details
Upon arrival at Baltra airport, our guide will be waiting for you with an easily identifiable sign with your name to assist you in the transfer from the airport exit to the Itabaca Channel, here you will take the ferry to cross to Santa Cruz Island where our private vehicle will be waiting for you. Our first visit will be the giant tortoise reserve where we can observe them in their natural state, and then have an interesting walk in the lava tunnels, curious formations in which we can learn about the history and formation of the Islands. Finally our guide will accompany you to your place of accommodation.
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 07/31/2021 - 04/08/2027
Monday - Sunday : 12:00 AM - 11:30 PM
Itinerary
1
Galápagos Ecological Airport
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Canal de Itabaca
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Santa Cruz
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Rancho Primicias
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
5
Puerto Ayora
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Kim_T
Andres is the best tour guide ever!! He took care of us from beginning to end. He helped us line up everything that we needed and our trip could not have run smoother. Highly recommend Andres Herrera, we learned so much about the islands from him and his wife.
Reviews
4.8
based on 37 reviews
cgal2105, Feb 2026
We had an amazing big day!! What a wonderful welcome to the Galápagos Islands!! Everything was taken care of for us so no need to worry about bus and ferry tickets or luggage, explored despite the rain (and kept the luggage totally dry) and got to visit the tortoise reserve!!! Thank you again for a wonderful introduction to the Galapagos!!!
Emily_R, Nov 2025
Well organized and awesome experience. My only negative comment is that this is well overpriced for what it is, but if you want a hassle-free experience, then this is perfect. Our guide, Jefferson, was super friendly and informative, and overall a great pleasure.
Lauren_B, Aug 2025
This tour made getting from the airport in Baltra to Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz a breeze! Jefferson my guide was friendly and knowledgeable! Wonderful experience to see the tortoises, los gemelos and lava tunnels along the ride.
Mohammad_I, Jul 2025
Our Tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. He was eager to help. Certainly would recommend to other travelers
Fayth_B, Jul 2025
Guide was wonderful ! Perfect way to start your galapogas trip!! Prompt and seamless to once picked up with a sign !
Kim_T, Apr 2025
Andres is the best tour guide ever!! He took care of us from beginning to end. He helped us line up everything that we needed and our trip could not have run smoother. Highly recommend Andres Herrera, we learned so much about the islands from him and his wife.
James_P, Apr 2025
Good way to maximize your time when seeing into Santa Cruz on the way to Porto Ayroyo. Our guide Jefferson was great!!!
Kara_A, Mar 2025
This is an excellent way to transfer from the Baltra airport and experience the Galapagos on Day 1! It was just my college-age daughter and myself for this private transfer. Andres and the driver, Jose, met us at baggage claim and made the process of bus, ferry and water taxi so easy because we just had to follow them - any fees were taken care of. Andres was very knowledgeable about the island. Seeing the giant tortoises so close was incredible and very special by having a private guide to tell us about them and their contributions to the island. The lava tunnels are in the same location and also a great experience. It was raining pretty hard but they give you rain boots. So happy we booked this!
Ashley_W, Jan 2025
This was the best tour experience I have ever had! We learned so much and not just about where we toured but also about the people the island and the way of being on this unique and beautiful place.
Dominique_R, Jan 2025
Ricardo was on time to greet us at Baltra. He is a friendly, polite, and knowledgeable guide with a good sense of humor. We highly recommend this airport pick up option especially if you have limited time on Santa Cruz. On the way to our hotel we stopped at Los Gemelos, lava tunnels and Rancho Primicias giant tortoise reserve. We had a fresh good snack (empanadas) at the reserve. Carlos was a good and helpful driver. Definitely recommend this option as an efficient way to use your time if you don’t plan to go north again on the island.
Steve_R, Jan 2025
Great plane to hotel excursion. We wanted to see the giant tortoises in the wild as part of our journey from the airport on Beltran to Puerto Ayora. This excursion combined dedicated transportation with an informative trip. Our guide Andy was excellent and engaged our late-teen grandsons in educational experiences. Highly recommend.
Heather_C, Jan 2025
Our guide was wonderful! She was waiting for my family with our name on a board once we cleared customs at the airport. She helped us onto the bus, then the boat, then a private ride towards our hotel. On the way we stopped to see a crater, the huge tortoises, and a quick drive through the town so we knew where things were. We saw most of Santa Cruz Island just from this transfer and I highly recommend this company!
Samantha_M, Nov 2024
This trip was easy and allowed us to explore the island before checking into our hotel. Our guide Jefferson was knowledgeable and took time at the end of the trip to drive through town and point out place to eat and shop. Great experience!
Christina_J, Dec 2023
We were picked up at the airport by our guide, Jefferson, and he helped us with the whole process of getting to our hotel. On the way, we stopped to see the giant tortoises and lava tunnels in the highlands. We really enjoyed the tour and it was made even better by Jefferson. He was super friendly and knowledgeable (and also very patient with our young daughter!). We highly recommend this tour and if you can, request Jefferson as your guide because you won’t be disappointed!
Veronica_S, Dec 2023
My family of five really enjoyed our tour with Andres. He was extremely knowledgeable, kind, and had a wonderful personality. He made sure we were comfortable from the moment we met him at the airport, was able to accommodate all requests, and find the perfect pace/groove for a mixed ability group. Andres spoke great English and had an answer for every question we asked and was also very savvy and helpful with other recommendations and suggestions for activities and restaurants in town. We would highly recommended this tour and Andres to anyone visiting!
Stephanie_W, Aug 2023
We had a wonderful time with our tour guide, Ricardo, and our driver Carlos. Ricardo was very knowledgeable and went above and beyond when I misplaced my luggage. He found my missing luggage and waited with me while a currier brought my missing bag. Wonderful experience.
David_R, Aug 2023
This was a great experience. Love the giant turtles! We also got to see a sink hole and a lava túnel.
Laurie_P, Jul 2023
The tour driver met me just outside the baggage area; he coordinated the bus and ferry rides and the payments to each (going along with me); this was very appreciated as most folks spoke only Spanish. I thought this was a tour for a small group, but I was the only one. I kind of wanted to blend into the background of a group, but the tour guide was easy to be around. We first stopped at Los Gemelas which is basically two big holes in the ground; but the guide did a good job of explaining it. Next stop was great; the large outdoors area with tortoises all over the place. None of the animals were caged, they were just walking around. I loved this stop. The guide did a great job of offering photos. On to the hotel dropoff. Everything went smooth and this tour made for a very easy transition from the airport to the hotel.
Janine_S, Jun 2023
This was really worth doing! Our guide was waiting for us at the airport with a clearly marked sign with our names. It was then painless to get the bus and then the ferry to the mainland where a private vehicle and separate driver was waiting for us. Our guide knew all of the operators so our luggage was prioritized for the most expedient transfer. Once we were in our private vehicle, our guide shared lots of interesting facts about the Galapagos while we traveling to 2 different spots: a couple of volcano creators and then to ‘El Chato Ranch’ to see giant tortoises and the lava tunnel. This was a VERY entertaining and interesting experience.
Finally, we were dropped right outside our hotel so we could check in.
It was great not to have to think about getting from the airport to our hotel and we were also entertained along the way. So worth it!!
Sean_W, Jan 2023
Great tour. Our guide Jefferson was informative, patient, and accommodating to our family needs. There is no shortage of tortoises to be seen at the ranch. And the food at the ranch was outstanding as well.
sheriboberry1, Nov 2022
After multiple additional tariffs, forms, and hassles getting to the Galapagos, it was very nice to everything taken care of once I was finally allowed in! The guide took care of the bus, the canal across the ferry, and eventually front door service to my hostel. And along the way, it was incredible sites and history to complement the journey. And the tortoise preserve is absolutely incredible!
Response from Host, Mar 2023
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Crystal_S, Jul 2022
Amazing time, we were greeted by the friendly and welcoming Jefferson. He got us through to the bus, the boat, then a taxi to the tortoise reserve, afterwards, we toured Santa Cruz. Everything was amazing and we were so grateful and comfortable.
Marcos_B, Jan 2026
Please note that on arrival in Baltra you expect a slow process at the airport and that an expensive fee is payable to enter
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From $214.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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