There are flights to the Galapagos in the morning arriving at Baltra just off the north end of Santa Cruz. The planes are then loaded up with departing tourists for Quito. Its a short ferry ride to Santa Cruz and 45 minute (seemed longer) bus trip to Punta Ayora on the South end of the island. There we boarded the Tip Top III, a 16-passenger boat with a crew of 6.