The gateway to the Galapagos!
Baltra Island has an area of 21 km2 and is home to one of the two Galapagos airports with a connection to mainland Ecuador. Most travelers arrive in Baltra in the archipelago. Cruise ships are anchored in Aeolian Bay and those who visit Galapagos on their own can cross the Itabaca Canal to Santa Cruz by ferry and travel from there to Puerto Ayora.
Flights Galapagos National Park Ecuador UNESCO World Heritage Site
4 Mantas Baltra Island Galapagos National Park Ecuador UNESCO World Natural Heritage
Sea lion on arrival Baltra Island Galapagos National Park Ecuador UNESCO World Heritage Site
Channel Transfer Santa Cruz Island Baltra Island Galapagos National Park Ecuador
Red cliff crabs on Baltra Island Galapagos National Park Ecuador UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ferry Airport Baltra Island Galapagos National Park Ecuador UNESCO World Natural Heritage
I look excitedly out of the window of the shuttle bus. A stony landscape with individual bushes and cacti passes by. Then the sea comes into view and my wanderlust is fed up with the turquoise blue water. Suddenly the bus driver brakes. Mantas! the call sounds and we can actually see four of these water giants through the crystal clear water from the bus. An exotic reception committee in paradise. When colorful cliff crabs are already tripping at the ferry dock and the first sea lion is waiting for us, happiness is perfect. Welcome to Galapagos!
I look excitedly out of the window of the shuttle bus. A stony landscape with individual bushes and cacti passes by. Then the sea comes into view and my wanderlust is fed up with the turquoise blue water. Suddenly the bus driver brakes. Mantas! the call sounds and we can actually see four of these water giants through the crystal clear water from the bus. An exotic reception committee in paradise. When colorful cliff crabs are already tripping at the ferry dock and the first sea lion is waiting for us, happiness is perfect. Welcome to Galapagos!
Landscape Baltra Island Galapagos National Park Ecuador UNESCO World Natural Heritage
Ecuador • Galapagos • Galapagos Trip • Baltra Island
AGE ™ visited the Galapagos Island of Baltra for you:
How can I contact Baltra?
There is a regular flight service between Baltra and the city of Guayanquil on the Ecuadorian mainland. The flight time is about two hours. There is a one-hour time difference between the mainland and the Galapagos Islands. There is a ferry service across the Itabaca Canal between Baltra and Santa Cruz Island. A shuttle bus runs between the airport and the ferry terminal. The ferry crossing only takes about 10 minutes. The 40 km between the port city of Puerto Ayora in the south of Santa Cruz and the ferry terminal in the north towards Baltra can be covered by bus or taxi.
What can I do on Baltra?
Most travelers use the island's airport as a connection to mainland Ecuador, and some cruise ships leave from Baltra. There are no sightseeing opportunities on the island of Baltra itself. Only in front of the airport building, at the ferry terminal of the Itabaca Canal and through the windows of the shuttle bus can you catch a glimpse of the islands.
What animal sightings are likely?
There is little time for animals on the short way between the airport and the ferry. If you keep your eyes open, with a bit of luck you can spot the first sea lions at the ferry terminal or say goodbye to the last marine iguanas. Even land iguanas under cacti in front of the airport building sweeten the waiting time.
How can I book a tour to Baltra?
Baltra is served by the airlines LATAM and Avianca from the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil. Tickets for the shuttle bus between the airport and Itabaca Canal and a taxi or bus ride to Puerto Ayora can be purchased on site.
Where is Baltra Island located?
Baltra is located in the Galapagos Archipelago north of Santa Cruz and south of North Seymour. Due to the military base, the island is not part of the Galapagos National Park. Baltra is only separated from Santa Cruz by the narrow Itabaca Canal. The ferry ride between Santa Cruz and Baltra takes about 10 minutes.
The hub of the archipelago!
3 reasons to fly to Baltra
Good, regular flight connection with the Ecuadorian mainland
Quick arrival to the so-called main island Santa Cruz
Exciting route from Baltra over the highlands of Santa Cruz to the port city
Profile of the island of Baltra
 Namur | Spanish: Baltra English: South Seymour |
 Size | 21 km2 |
 Age | 700.000 years to 1,5 million years (first surface above sea level, below the surface the island is older) |
 vegetation | Cactus trees (Opuntia echios var. Echios) & salt bushes |
 Wildlife | Galapagos sea lion, Baltra land iguana, marine iguanas |
 Protection status | Only military personnel are stationed Civil airport & military base Strict controls to prevent the introduction of species |
How is the weather in Galapagos?
Temperatures are between 20 and 30 ° C all year round. December to June is the hot season and July to November is the warm season. The rainy season lasts from January to May, the rest of the year is dry season. During the rainy season, the water temperature is highest at around 26 ° C. In the dry season it drops to 22 ° C.
Ecuador • Galapagos • Galapagos Trip • Baltra Island
Bill White & Bree Burdick, edited by Hooft-Toomey Emilie & Douglas R. Toomey for a project of the Charles Darwin Research Station, topographical data compiled by William Chadwick, Oregon State University (undated), Geomorphology. Age of the Galapagos Islands. [online] Retrieved on July 04.07.2021th, XNUMX, from URL:
https://pages.uoregon.edu/drt/Research/Volcanic%20Galapagos/presentation.view@_id=9889959127044&_page=1&_part=3&.html
Biology page (undated), Opuntia echios. [online] Retrieved on June 15.08.2021, XNUMX, from URL: https://www.biologie-seite.de/Biologie/Opuntia_echios
Galapagos Conservancy (oD), The Galapagos Islands. Baltra. [online] Retrieved on June 26.06.2021, XNUMX, from URL:
https://www.galapagos.org/about_galapagos/about-galapagos/the-islands/baltra/