Santa Cruz and San Cristobal
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Positives
- Powerful reefbreaks
- Waves year-round
- Uncrowded boat trips
- More consistent than the mainland
- Wildlife mecca
Negatives
- Windy south shore breaks
- Cool equatorial water
- Few easy access spots
- Sharp lava rocks
- Expensive
Santa Cruz and San Cristobal surf travel guide
It was through observing the unique and diverse wildlife of the Galapagos Islands that led Charles Darwin to expand upon his theory of evolution. These 17 isolated, oceanic oases have been declared a national park and even today, only five of the islands are inhabited. The coastal fringe of this active volcanic archipelago is made up of lava reefs and boulders because the water is too cold for coral formation. Some islands don’t have that many good spots thanks to steep and broken-up lava outcrops, while other islands like San Cristobal have a concentration of top-quality waves in a small area. Waves jack up suddenly out of deep water and have plenty of power, drawing the odd comparison with Hawaii. Most of the reefs are sharp and the very clear water makes it hard to figure out exactly how deep it is. The water is actually the coldest equatorial water on earth, due to the Humboldt Current working its way up the coastline of South America and past the islands, bringing with it water from Antarctica. This water is nutrient rich explaining the attraction for the prolific marine wildlife. Apart from Puertos Ayora and Baquerizo, access to the waves is difficult with many areas off-limits, plus finding safe anchorages while exploring by boat is a major issue, so many waves have yet to be ridden, thanks to their treacherous surrounding waters.
Surf spots in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal
Research the 11 surf breaks in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 11 breaks in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Santa Cruz and San Cristobal
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Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 150,000
- Population
- 25,000
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Money
- Currency
- United States Dollar (USD)
- Exchange rate
- $1 = $1 USD United States Dollar (USD)
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +593
- Dialing out
- 00
- Language
- Spanish, English widely spoken
Electricity
- Plug Type
- ab
Visas
No visa is required for most nationalities.
Getting There
No visa is required for most nationalities. Fly to mainland Ecuador first, either Quito or Quayaquil. Latam and Avianca fly Quito - San Cristóbal and Quayaquil - Baltra. Favour San Cristóbal. Flights are frequently full, especially during peak season (Dec-Feb, July-Sept). Book early! Boardbags will cost you big money each way.
Getting Around
Emetebe flies inter-island from $160 e/w (no boards). Unless you stay on a surf charter boat, hopping between islands involves the use of ferries. If you land in Baltra, you'll need to take a combination of buses and ferries to Puerto Ayora, then a 2hr ferry to Baquerizo ($40e/w). To get to most spots, you'll have to walk or take a taxi. Be careful of the sun, it's strong and shade is rare, people have died getting lost!
Accommodation
Unless you stay on a boat, you have plenty of choice for Baquerizo Moreno basic hotels (Miconia, Casa Blanca, etc from $40/n), or the higher-end Blue Marlin Hotel (Wavehunters package including boat transfers), or the Hotel Pimampiro, used by Waterways for all-inclusive guided tours ($1407/p/5d/dbl). Cheaper hostels and homestays in Puerto Ayora from $20/n/dorm. Galapagos charter boats are expensive. Food is generally fish & rice. Veggies and beers are expensive.
Activities
The Galapagos is a World Heritage Site due to the amazing wildlife, which shows little fear of people. Take a guided tour to learn about the unique flora and fauna. From midnight to 6AM all electricity used to be switched off but as the population grows, these wildlife considerations are fading. Puerto Ayora has some limited nightlife but Baquerizo Moreno is pretty quiet.
Hazards & hassles
In the case of an emergency, adequate hospitals are far away. Most lava reefs are shallow and the rocks have sharp edges. A shark attacked a surfer at an Isabella break in 2007 and another hit occurred at Villamil beach on Isabela Island (both non-fatal). Male sea lions are swimming around and have been known to nip at surfers. The true local surfers are few and friendly.
Handy Hints
Bring everything you may need with you. A couple of boards (a semi-gun may be needed), leashes, fullsuit and springsuit, booties, hats, sunscreen, insect repellent, flashlight and a conservationist attitude, because the Galapagos is a very special place. The National Park entry fee is $100, payable in cash at the airport.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.