Arrival
April 28, 2005
Outside of Baltra Airport: "Welcome to the Galapagos!"
Baltra is really only a small satellite island to Isla Santa Cruz and where the airport is located (see my review). Everything went quite rushed, first we had to go through customs formalities etc, which took quite a lonf time. Then we caught a small van that brought us to the ferry that would shuttle us to Santa Cruz Island, our final destination for the day and where we would embark the ship that would be our home for the next week.
Good thing that we are light travellers because the loading and unloading of the luggage on the small ferries is not easy. I would definitely not recommend to travel with hard-sided luggage.
Everyone was twisting their necks to see the first glimpses of wildlife but there really wasn't that much to be seen on Baltra. It looked like a very dry and desolate island.
Outside of Baltra Airport: "Welc...
Arrival at the Islands
You will be arriving at one of the two airports in the Galapagos, at either Baltra Island or at Isla San Christobal, which is a much smaller airport. When arriving at Baltra airport, keep in mind that Baltra is a small island just next to Santa Cruz island and that, in order to reach Puerto Ayora, the main town and the harbor from which most boats depart, you still have an almost 2-hour bus trip to go, including a ferry connecting Baltra Island and Santa Cruz Island. Taking the ferry is quite a bustle. Arriving at San Christobal Island would be more convenient but there are more flights to Baltra airport.
Upon arriving at the islands, you'll go through customs (quite strict so you won't bring anything into the islands that could contaminate the natural environment like seeds or fruit) and you'll have to pay a $ 100,- fee to enter the national park.
Upon arriving at the islands, you'll go through customs (quite strict so you won't bring anything into the islands that could contaminate the natural environment like seeds or fruit) and you'll have to pay a $ 100,- fee to enter the national park.
