Getting to the Galapagos Islands: Baltra Airport
Once you’re in Ecuador, your flight to the Galapagos Islands will depart either from Quito (in the Andes) or Guayaquil (on the coast). In the Galapagos, there are two main airports: Baltra and San Cristobal.
Baltra Island is a small island north of Santa Cruz Island. The airport is small and very nice.
Services at Baltra Airport in the Galapagos
Does WiFi exist? I’m not sure. Services are pretty basic at the airport. You’ll find ticketing, security and bathrooms. There are, of course, a full set of gift shops – in case you forgot to pickup something while on the other islands. We actually found some of the souvenirs at the airport to be of better quality and selection than in the towns. But for other services that you might expect at an airport, such as restaurants, currency exchange or back massages – you’ll have to wait until you arrive back in Quito or Guayaquil for these things. Baltra Airport does a great job of getting you to and from the Islands – and that’s all. Its good to remember that this is a national, not an international airport.
Once you land, you’ll take a bus to the other side of the island and cross a small channel by boat. Once you cross to the other side, you’ll be on Santa Cruz. If traveling with a tour operator, you will have transport waiting for you. If not, you can arrange a ride into Puerto Ayora with one of the truck taxis.
A Little Background on Baltra Island
Also known as South Seymour (after Lord Hugh Seymour, a senior 18th century British Royal Navy officer), Baltra Island is one of the few non-volcanic islands of the Galapagos archipelago. It was created by a unique phenomenon known as a geological uplift.
During World War II, Baltra Island served as a strategic base of the United States Army Air Force. After the war, the base and all the facilities were given to the Ecuadorian Government.
Today the airport serves as one of two entry points for 160,000 tourists every year.
