Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos and something of a hub for the Island cluster.

The Santa Cruz Highlands is where you will find the Tortoise Reserve. The best times to see tortoises here is during the cool dry season from June through December.

Another attraction close by is a very large lava tube. A wooden stairway descends to the mouth of its arched entrance and continues underground to the narrow passage that marks its exit.

Black Turtle Cove, on the north shore of Santa Cruz, is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat.

You will see marine iguanas and in the lagoon, flamingos are commonly seen.