Santa Cruz · Galápagos
Hiking Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz is the greenest island in the Galápagos. Walk from the white sands of Tortuga Bay to the misty highland forests and the island's highest point, past giant tortoises living wild.
Why hike Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is the most accessible Galápagos island and the greenest, and Santa Cruz hiking covers both coast and highlands. The classic walk is the trail out to Tortuga Bay, a long white beach with marine iguanas and reef sharks in the lagoon. Up in the misty highlands, trails wind through Scalesia forest to the Los Gemelos sinkholes, lava tunnels and the El Chato reserve, where giant tortoises roam wild.
For a longer hike, the route up Cerro Crocker and Media Luna climbs through the island's vegetation zones to its highest ground, which is quiet, full of endemic plants and rarely walked. From a base in Puerto Ayora you can combine coast and highland hiking, which covers a good share of the things to do in Santa Cruz, Galápagos.
More than an airport stop
Many travellers pass through Santa Cruz only on the way from the airport to a cruise. Tortuga Bay alone is worth a morning, and the highlands hold the best wild-tortoise encounters in the Galápagos. We hike it land-based, at a human pace, with a naturalist guide for the park trails that need one.
Your itinerary
2–3 days hiking Santa Cruz
Walk the trail out to Tortuga Bay for the beach, marine iguanas and the calm lagoon, then the Charles Darwin Station on the way back into Puerto Ayora.
Up into the misty highlands: the Los Gemelos sinkholes, a lava tunnel, and the El Chato reserve to walk among wild giant tortoises.
For keen hikers, the trail up through Scalesia and Miconia zones toward Media Luna and Cerro Crocker, in the island's high, quiet interior.
What's included
Included
- Naturalist guide for required park trails
- Accommodation in Puerto Ayora
- Highland transport & trail logistics
- Park-trail permits & briefing
- Daily breakfast
Not included
- Inter-island flights/ferries & Galápagos park fee
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Lunches & dinners in town
- Optional boat day-tours
Gear
We arrange
- Naturalist guides where required
- Island lodging
- Highland transfers
- Permits & logistics
You bring
- Light hiking shoes
- Sun hat & reef-safe sunscreen
- Daypack & water
- Light rain layer (highlands)
- Swimwear
Safety on the mountain
- Licensed Galápagos naturalist guides
- Small groups, low-impact trekking
- Land-based, town-based nights
- All park-trail permits handled
Santa Cruz hiking FAQ
What is the best hike on Santa Cruz?
The Tortuga Bay trail is the classic: an easy ~2.5 km walk to a white beach and lagoon. For a longer hike, the highland route toward Cerro Crocker and Media Luna climbs through the island's vegetation zones to its quiet high ground.
Can you see giant tortoises hiking on Santa Cruz?
Yes. The highland reserves (like El Chato) are the best place in the Galápagos to walk among giant tortoises in the wild, alongside the Scalesia forest and the Los Gemelos sinkholes.
How many days do you need on Santa Cruz?
Two to three days covers Tortuga Bay, the highlands and (for keen hikers) Cerro Crocker. It pairs perfectly with Isabela for a fuller Galápagos hiking trip.
Do you need a guide to hike Santa Cruz?
Some trails (Tortuga Bay) you can walk independently; the national-park highland sites generally require a licensed naturalist guide. We arrange guides wherever they're needed and handle the logistics.
Plan your days on foot in Santa Cruz
Tell us your dates and we'll build a land-based Santa Cruz hiking trip (Tortuga Bay, the highlands and the wild tortoises) with guides and logistics handled.