Private Tour
Transfer Airport-hotel in Galapagos Santa Cruz with visit to Giant Tortoises
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Optimize your time in Galapagos!
By visiting the giant tortoise reserve and lava tunnels upon arrival you can save time and use it for other activities. Normally the transfer from the airport is direct and non-stop, the next day they take you back to the upper part of the island to visit the turtles and tunnels, which makes you lose a day in Galapagos.
With us you win a day as you visit these attractions upon arrival.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Upon arrival at the Galapagos airport on Baltra Island, you must present your documents and pay the entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park, after which you can take your luggage and upon your departure our guide will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. From here our guide will assist you at all times and we continue in a transport (cost included in the rate) to the end of the Island to the so-called Itabaca Channel
Canal de Itabaca
We leave the transport and go to the dock of the channel, we embark (the cost is included) and put the life jackets that will be provided once full, the ferry makes a short navigation to the island in front that is Santa Cruz.
What‘s Included
Lava Tunnels Entrance
Bilingual guide certified by the Galapagos National Park
Private transportation from the Itabaca channel (Santa Cruz) to the hotel
Entrance visit giant tortoises
Transportation ticket from the Airport to the Itabaca channel
Itabaca channel ferry ticket.
Tips
Feeding
Pickup points
Baltra Airport
Ecuador
Options
Transfer Airport-hotel in Galapagos Santa Cruz with visit to Giant Tortoises
Pickup included
Reviews
37 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Quick stay during a power outage, at Amagi Aria Negombo
773sureshp,Mar 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Due to a sudden black out in our residential area, we decided to stay out for 01 night and made a last-minute booking at Amagi Aria Negombo. Since we had visited this hotel twice in the past few months, we didnt think twice, to call the hotel to make a quick booking. Once we reached the hotel, we were pleasantly surprised by the very kind gesture, of the hotel RM, Mr Dinesh, who had instructed the front desk to upgrade us, to a Delux Premium room and it was the same room we stayed during our last visit! We would like to say a big thank you the Front Desk team (sadly I dont remember there names), for providing us a warm welcome and attending to a smooth check in/out, since we were so exhausted and tired when we arrived, after the power outage at our residence. On a very special note, we wish to extend our sincere thanks to Mr Dinesh the Resident Manager, who went out of his way to make us feel very comfortable and relaxed through out our stay. Also a very big thank you, to Chef Manjula and his kitchen team, for the fabulous food that was offered during our stay. We immensely enjoyed our short stay, in the delux premium room as it was spacious, clean, very comfortable and had a balcony with a great lagoon view! We are happy to recommend this hotel to anyone, who wish to enjoy nice food, relax and chill out, either for a short or long stay, as it is located very conveniently, between Negombo town and the Katunayake airport and has easy access to Katunayake express way too! Thanks again for the wonderful hospitality you offered us and we certainly would come back very soon! Peter
We had an amazing big...
cgal2105,Feb 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We 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!!!
First contact with the shocking giant turtles of the Galapagos
Marcos B,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Please note that on arrival in Baltra you expect a slow process at the airport and that an expensive fee is payable to enter
Well organized and...
Emily R,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Well 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.
This tour made getting...
Lauren B,Aug 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This 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.
Big Tortoises in Galapagos
Mohammad I,Jul 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our Tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. He was eager to help. Certainly would recommend to other travelers
Awesome
Fayth B,Jul 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Guide was wonderful ! Perfect way to start your galapogas trip!! Prompt and seamless to once picked up with a sign !
Andres Herrera is the best tour guide ever!!
Kim T,Apr 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Andres 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.
Good way to maximize your...
James P,Apr 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Good way to maximize your time when seeing into Santa Cruz on the way to Porto Ayroyo. Our guide Jefferson was great!!!
This is an excellent way...
Kara A,Mar 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This 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!
Related Experiences
Operated by OVERLAND ADVENTURE