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Santa Cruz Highland Tour

Wild Tortoises, Lava Tunnels & Highland Exploration

Book from $120 - $180
  • Galapagos Giant Tortoises
  • Exploration of Los Gemelos
  • Lava Tunnels

Highland Discovery & Giant Tortoise Experience

Start your Galápagos journey the moment you land. Instead of navigating buses, ferries, taxis, and unfamiliar logistics on your own, meet your private naturalist guide directly at the airport and step straight into the wonders of Santa Cruz Island.

From the turquoise waters of the Itabaca Channel to the misty highland forests, giant tortoise habitats, volcanic lava tunnels, and the iconic Twin Craters, this experience combines seamless arrival logistics with an unforgettable introduction to the islands. By the time you reach your hotel, you’ll already have explored some of Santa Cruz’s most fascinating landscapes and wildlife alongside your personal guide.

Check Availability

Best time to Go:

Year Around

Focus:

Giant Tortoises, Finches & Local Life

Availability:

Everyday upon Arrival or Departure

Duration:

4 Hours

Group Size:

Private Setting

Experience Level:

Easily Accessible for all ages

What is included:

See here

Santa Cruz Highland Tour Itinerary: What to Expect

 

From Arrival to Immersion: Your First Galápagos Adventure

For many travelers, arriving in the Galápagos is both exciting and unexpectedly overwhelming. After landing at Baltra Airport, reaching Puerto Ayora requires a series of buses, ferries, and taxis while navigating unfamiliar procedures and carrying luggage through an entirely new environment.

This experience removes all of that stress.

Your private naturalist guide welcomes you directly inside the arrival hall and takes care of every logistical detail from the very beginning. Instead of worrying about transportation, tickets, or directions, you can focus entirely on enjoying your first moments in the Galápagos.

As you board the airport shuttle, the first signs of the islands begin to appear. Land iguanas rest on the sides of the road, cacti shape the barren landscape, and soon the turquoise waters of the Itabaca Channel come into view.

While crossing the channel, keep an eye out for Sally Lightfoot crabs, pelicans, frigatebirds, and perhaps even blue-footed boobies fishing nearby. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way into the heart of Santa Cruz Island.

Exploring the Misty Highlands of Santa Cruz

Leaving the dry coastal zone behind, the road gradually climbs into the lush highlands, revealing a completely different side of the Galápagos ecosystem.

Your first stop is Los Gemelos, the famous Twin Craters. Together with your guide, you’ll walk through the surrounding Scalesia forest while learning how these enormous formations were created. The forest is home to several species of Darwin’s finches and offers wonderful opportunities to discover the unique plant life that thrives in the cooler, more humid climate of the highlands.

With your luggage safely stored in the vehicle, you are free to explore at a relaxed pace, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the islands’ geology, evolution, and ecology.

Far from the busy waterfronts, this is often the moment when travelers truly begin to feel connected to the Galápagos.

Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnels & Your First Galápagos Lunch

The adventure continues at Primicias Ranch, located at the edge of the giant tortoise habitat in the Santa Cruz Highlands.

Here, giant tortoises roam freely through ponds, pastures, and forested areas. Watch them feeding, resting, or soaking in muddy pools while your guide shares fascinating insights into their behavior, conservation, and the challenges posed by introduced species.

Depending on the season, you may even have the opportunity to sample fresh mandarins grown on the property before enjoying a delicious lunch prepared at the ranch.

After lunch, descend into an impressive lava tunnel stretching hundreds of meters beneath the surface. Walking through this ancient volcanic formation offers a powerful reminder of the geological forces that shaped the Galápagos Islands millions of years ago.

Finally, after an immersive introduction to the archipelago, you’ll be transferred directly to your hotel in Puerto Ayora already carrying memories and experiences that many visitors don’t discover until much later in their journey.

Why Choose the Highland Tour of Santa Cruz

This is the perfect way to begin your Galápagos adventure — transforming your arrival day from a logistical challenge into an immersive wildlife and nature experience with your own private naturalist guide.

What makes this tour special:

  • Start exploring the Galápagos the moment you land — instead of spending your first hours navigating transportation and logistics
  • Completely stress-free arrival — with your guide coordinating buses, ferries, transportation and luggage handling throughout the journey
  • Encounter giant tortoises on your first day — observing them roaming freely in the Santa Cruz Highlands
  • Explore multiple ecosystems in a single experience — from arid cactus-covered lowlands to lush Scalesia forests
  • Discover the islands’ volcanic origins — through the Twin Craters and an impressive lava tunnel
  • Private naturalist guide from the airport onward — allowing you to ask questions and deepen your understanding of the Galápagos from the very beginning

Who this tour is perfect for:

  • Travelers arriving through Baltra Airport — who want a seamless transition into their adventure and spend a rewarding first day.
  • Wildlife enthusiasts — eager to encounter giant tortoises as soon as possible
  • Curious travelers or families — who enjoy learning about nature, evolution and geology with an expert guide
  • Visitors who value comfort and convenience — while still making the most of every hour in the Galápagos

Inclusions

  • Experienced Naturalist Guide
  • Lobito Bus Fee
  • Itabaca Ferry Charge
  • Delicious Lunch (vegetarian options)
  • Ranch Entrance
  • Private Taxi
  • Pick-up from Baltra Airport
  • Drop-off at the Hotel (except Punta Estrada)
  • Gratitudes for Crew & Guide
  • Additional Services
  • Alcoholic Beverages

What can I discover?

Packing List

Sun Protection & Glasses

Do not underestimate the strenght of radiation even on cloudy days. Bring a hat, sun screen & glasses.

Good Walking Shoes

For your own safety don’t take Flip Flops with you. Simple sneakers will do the magic

Camera

Capture your adventure and take home the best souvenir possible

Long Socks

To protect yourself from ant bites, we recommend wearing long socks.

Refillable Water Bottel

Stay Hydrate throughout your Galapagos vacation.

Rain Jacket

During the trip you pass through multiple climate zones. Please bring a rain jacket with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This experience can also be arranged as a departure-day tour, including hotel pick-up, a guided visit to the Santa Cruz Highlands, and drop-off at Baltra Airport in time for your flight.

To comfortably enjoy the experience, we recommend booking it only if your flight departs after midday. This allows enough time to explore Los Gemelos, observe giant tortoises in the highlands, visit the lava tunnel, and enjoy lunch without feeling rushed.

For many travelers, it’s a wonderful way to make the most of their final hours in the Galápagos instead of spending them waiting at the airport.

Your luggage remains safely stored in the vehicle while you explore the different sites. This allows you to enjoy the experience without carrying bags throughout the day.

Because this experience is about much more than transportation.

Your private guide handles every logistical detail while helping you understand the wildlife, landscapes, history, and culture of the Galápagos from the very beginning of your trip. It’s a stress-free arrival, a personalized introduction to the islands, and an opportunity to ask every question you’ve been saving for months before finally arriving.

That’s something a taxi ride simply can’t provide.

Yes. You will be accompanied by your own private naturalist guide from the moment you arrive at Baltra Airport until you are dropped off at your hotel.

Your private naturalist guide will be waiting for you in the arrival hall immediately after you collect your luggage. They will be holding a sign with your name, making it easy to find them and begin your Galápagos adventure without any confusion or stress.

No. Your guide is there to accompany you, share their knowledge, answer your questions, and ensure everything runs smoothly throughout the experience.

While they are happy to assist when needed, guides are not porters and are not responsible for carrying luggage.

Los Gemelos, or the Twin Craters, are enormous sinkholes located in the Santa Cruz Highlands. Despite their appearance, they are not volcanic craters but collapsed underground chambers surrounded by beautiful Scalesia forest.

Yes. The easy walks, giant tortoise encounters, and lava tunnel exploration make this an excellent experience for families with children.

Very likely. The Santa Cruz Highlands are one of the best places in the Galápagos to observe giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat. While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, encounters are common throughout the year.

Reservation​

Galapagos Islands

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