Galapagos Safari Camp is ideally located in the middle of the Galapagos archipelago, in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.
Tucked away on the border of the Galapagos National Park, Galapagos Safari Camp is immersed in nature, far from the coastal crowds, and yet within easy reach of all the main sites and ports of Santa Cruz island.
The Galapagos Islands are part of the Republic of Ecuador and are located 600 miles / 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador in South America.
As one of the most diverse islands in the Galapagos, with an arid coastline and forested volcanic highlands, Santa Cruz has a lot to offer, not just at dedicated visiting sites, but so often when traveling from A to B. Keep your eyes peeled!
Baltra Airport: A 45-minute journey by boat and car. After crossing the Itabaca Channel that separates Santa Cruz Island from Baltra, the drive to camp traverses the island’s multiple ecosystems.
Puerto Ayora: 30 minutes by car. The town of Puerto Ayora on the south coast of the island is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, shops, restaurants and local life. It is also the departure point for boat trips to uninhabited islands in the south.
Itabaca Channel: 30 minutes by car. This small port on the north coast of the island connects Santa Cruz with the airport on Baltra. It is also the departure point for boat trips to uninhabited islands in the north, as well as kayaking expeditions.
The Highlands: Home to tortoise reserves, volcanic craters, lava tunnels, coffee farms, quiet country lanes (ideal for biking), and Galapagos Safari Camp.
Beaches: 25-30 minutes by car, or a 5km/8km bike ride. Our safaris include two of the most beautiful beaches on Santa Cruz.
Note: It takes about 1 hour to cross the island, from Puerto Ayora in the south to the Itabaca Channel in the north. Our advantageous location – halfway between the two ports – gives us easy and quick access to both ports and all the main sites.
The journey to Galapagos Safari Camp begins in either Quito or Guayaquil, with a 2-hour flight to the small airport on Baltra Island (once the United States’ military base during the Second World War).
Having been greeted by your guide, you will make your way through the VIP Lounge and Galapagos National Park checks. You’ll then travel by car to the Itabaca Channel (approx 10 mins) where you will transfer to a boat for a short hop across the channel to the northern shore of Santa Cruz Island.
From there, it’s a 30-minute drive to the camp, from the arid ecosystems on the coast, into the cloudforests of the highlands, home to intriguing giant daisy trees, called Scalesia, and many other species.