Santa Cruz is the most populated island, concentrated in Puerto Ayora. Santa Cruz has a wide range of hotels, luxury hotels, hostels, apartments, inns, camps, some in the middle of the mangroves and with nice sea view.

Its main attractions are:

Charles Darwin Scientific Station and the Galapagos National Park: a tortoise breeding center for later be repatriated to their home islands.

Plaza Sur Island: Opuntia cactus forests, with land iguanas, sea lions, Nazca boobies, forked gulls.

Black Turtle Cove: mangrove lagoon, a mating place for sea turtles, rays and sharks.

El Garrapatero Beach: beach of white sand and crystal clear water, to watch flamingos, black-necked sparrows, Galapagos finches.

Dragon Hill: with its lagoon full of flamingos and land iguanas, ideal for diving and surfing.

Tortuga Bay: white sand beach and turquoise sea, a nesting place for sea turtles.