A Fast Boat to Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is the second island we chose to visit.  It's located in the center of the archipelago, and its main town, Puerto Ayora, is the most populated of the Galapagos towns.  We'd planned to spend seven nights here, then go on to Isabela Island for three nights.  Patricia, our excellent host on San Cristobal, questioned whether we were cutting it too close to get from Isabela to our flight to the mainland and Quito.  A word about transportation among the islands.  There are very expensive small plane flights between the islands.  The usual mode of transporation is by speed boat between them.  Our original plan was to leave Isabela Island by the 6 am boat to Santa Cruz, taking about two hours and a half.  Then we would have to transfer to a bus or a taxi for a trip of about an hour to the north end of Santa Cruz, take a 10 minute ferry boat with our luggage to Baltra Island (it's where the other of the two Galapagos airports is located - just the airport facilities - there's no accomodation there), then a 10 minute bus ride from the ferry to the airport. Our flight was scheduled for 11:20 AM.   The ever-accomodating Luis called our accomodations on Isabela and arranged for us the arrive a day earlier and leave a day earlier, spending the night before our flight back on Santa Cruz.  Our host at the Torre Mar, where we're staying on Santa Cruz, has offered us accomodation back here Sunday night and booked a cab for us on Monday, June 8,  to take us up to the ferry boat and help us with our luggage all the way to the airport check-in.  Again, we're greatful for all the favors we've received.

 Thus we departed San Cristobal last Friday, May 29th by fast boat (3 outboards, a 300 h.p Yamaha in the middle and two 200 h.p. on either side) for the 2 hour trip to Santa Cruz. We shared what space we had with 20 other travelers, transferred to a water taxi with all our luggage, found helpful and strong men to carry it, and hailed a pickup/taxi to Torre Mar.  Our helpful host, John, greeted us, showed us the apartment, and called Isabela to re-confirm our arrival.  We more-or-less collapsed for the evening.

Andy, Our Transporation to Santa Cruz

A Two Hour Trip with the Other Sardines