Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora
For many Galapagos visitors, your first journey will be from Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora Town on Santa Cruz Island.
This journey can be quite daunting for new arrivals as it involves multiple transport changes. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as jumping in a taxi and heading to your hotel.
But, fear not. We’re here to take the hassle out of your vacation.
Keep reading for all of the details about how to get from Baltra to Puerto Ayora. We’ll break the journey down into 3 easy steps, so your Galapagos arrival will be stress-free.
Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora Map
First up, let’s check out the route from Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora on a map.
Baltra Island is to the north of Santa Cruz. It’s the site of a former World War 2 US military base and is also known as South Seymour Island, so don’t get confused by this.
Puerto Ayora is the main port town on the south coast of central Santa Cruz Island. Most tourists either join their Galapagos Cruise Yacht here or stay a few nights to explore by themselves. Puerto Ayora is a pleasant town, lined with boutique shops, restaurants, and bars in front of the Pacific Ocean.
How to get from Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora in 3 Easy Steps
We promised 3 easy steps, and here they are:
1. Bus from Baltra Airport to the Itabaca Channel
The Lobito Bus departs from right outside of Baltra Airport terminal building. Just purchase your ticket ($5 per person) at the counter, store your luggage underneath the bus, and jump aboard.
The bus journey from Baltra Airport to the Itabaca Channel takes approximately 10 minutes. There are regular departures, so if you can’t squeeze onto the first bus then don’t worry. While waiting, keep your eyes peeled for golden-yellow colored Land Iguanas that live on Baltra Island, as well as friendly Darwin’s Finches.
There is also a bus service heading to Baltra Dock, so be sure to check that your bus service is destined for Itabaca before you board
2. Ferry Across the Itabaca Channel
You have 2 choices to get across the Itabaca Channel.
There is a large ferry operated by the city government, costing $1 per person.
There is also a smaller private boat that costs $2 per person, and is a little faster.
In both cases, you must first load your luggage onto the ferry roof before boarding. The staff will charge the fare on board during the crossing.
It takes around 10 minutes to cross the channel, so, sit back and enjoy the ride. This will often be your first sight of noisy Galapagos Sealions swimming in the crystalline waters, and Blue-Footed Boobies flying overhead.
3. Taxi or Bus from Itabaca to Puerto Ayora
On the other side of the Itabaca Channel, disembark the ferry and don’t forget to grab your luggage from the roof.
From here, it’s 26 miles (42km) to Puerto Ayora Town by road. The scenic journey climbs over the highlands, before descending to the coast on the other side.
The quickest method of transport is by taxi. Galapagos taxis are white pick-up trucks – you’ll see some at the dock waiting to meet passengers. Taxis charge a flat $25 fee for up to 4 passengers. You can choose to be dropped at your Santa Cruz hotel accommodation, the port, or at any other destination in town. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes by taxi.
The cheaper alternative is to take the public bus from Itabaca to Puerto Ayora. The fare costs $5 per person and will drop you conveniently at San Francisco Park next to the port. Expect the ride to take approximately 1 hour and ¼.
So, there you have it, 3 simple steps to travel from Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora Town. 😊
What if You are Joining a Cruise at Baltra Airport?
The Baltra arrival process is even easier for Galapagos Cruise passengers. Your naturalist tour guide will be waiting to meet you in airport arrivals and will handle all of the logistics to get you safely to your yacht. No worries, no hassle.
Private Transfer from Baltra to Puerto Ayora
Many Galapagos Land Tours also start at Baltra Airport with the transfer to Puerto Ayora included in the package price.
This is the most convenient and hassle-free way to get to Puerto Ayora, in the company of a tour guide.
You can also have the added treat of stopping off to visit either El Chato Tortoise Reserve or Los Gemelos Twin Craters as you cross Santa Cruz highlands.
How to Get Back to Baltra Airport?
The return journey to Baltra from Puerto Ayora is just as easy and is basically the same journey but in reverse.
Hotel receptionists can assist with taxi bookings to take you to Itabaca. Alternatively, buses depart every 30 minutes from Puerto Ayora Church at the port.
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In conclusion, the Galapagos arrival journey from Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora Town need not be stressful or daunting.
While there are several changes of transport involved, each step of the journey is simple in itself.
Just follow the 3-steps described in this blog, and remember to look out for your first Galapagos Animal and Bird sightings along the way
