san cristóbal

SAN CRISTÓBAL is the easternmost island in the archipelago and the administrative capital of the Galápagos Islands is also located here. It has a population of approximately 8,000 inhabitants, most of whom live in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the main town. They work in tourism, agriculture or the fishing industry.  El Progreso is a small village in the Highlands, about 10 minutes' drive from the port and airport. The island has basic services and its people live in a safe, reliable environment, typical of small communities.

San Cristóbal is a fantastic island to live and work on, but even better to play on! Right away you will discover the Malecon, situated along the seafront, with stunning views of the port and many tour boats, as well as small cruise ships. It is the business centre for the island and hosts a string of tourist shops,  cafes. souvenir shops, restaurants, tour agencies, the police station, bank and hospital, and some hotel and hostel accommodation.

accomodation & transport

Do you know you don’t need to go on a cruise to experience the best of the Galápagos Islands?

Boats

It is easy to go from San Cristóbal Island to Santa Cruz Island by boat.  Speedboats leave from both islands in the morning and cost approximately $30 for a one-way trip. From Santa Cruz it is possible to go to Isabela Island on a day or overnight trip or to some of the other nearby islands, including Floreana and Seymour.

Air

There are two airports that you can fly into and out of the Galápagos (San Cristóbal and Baltra Island beside Santa Cruz Island). The airport in San Cristóbal is walking distance (5-10 minutes) to the main town of Puerto Baquerizo Morena, but for Baltra, and then Santa Cruz, you will need to take a bus and boat trip (45 minutes) to arrive in Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz.

Getting around Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and San Cristóbal Island is easy, and it is possible to walk to most places in the town and nearby beachers or travel by pick-up truck, our local form of taxis.

activities & Tours

Everything on the island is free and there are many places to see and enjoy, including some amazing places like The Interpretation Centre, where you can learn about the natural and human history, and conservation of the Galápagos Islands.

You can take a taxi up to the Highlands to visit the village of El Progreso, the volcanic lagoon at El Junco, giant tortoises at La Galapaguera, a stunning view from El Soledad, and finally, the wonderful beaches at Puerto Chino and Loberia.

The island also has many beaches to visit, and most are ideal for snorkelling. Playa Mann is a 15 minute walk from the centre, while Playa Del Oro is an even shorter 10 minute walk, and both offer opportunities to sunbathe with the local sea lions or ´Lobos.´ Shortly after Playa Mann is Punta Carola, which is another great spot to swim or snorkel from, and, at the right time of year, even surf. A 30 minute walk will bring you to stunning La Loberia, which hosts some of the island's best opportunities to see marine iguanas and sea turtles.

For the athletically inclined you can rent bikes, kayaks and surfboards, and there are a number of great hikes to take you to some of the more remote places on the island.

Snorkelling gear can easily be rented in town for the day to allow you to make the most of your marine wildlife encounters on the island.

At the end of the day, there are plenty of places in San Cristóbal to watch the sun set over the ocean, before experiencing the local nightlife.

A great way to support local tourism is to take one of the many day tours available from the island, including the 360 Tour where you can swim with sharks at Kicker Rock and walk on the white sand beach of Rosa Blanca. Other popular day trips include Isla Española, Punta Pitt and Isla Lobos, and, of course, there are many amazing dive sites to explore nearby.