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Baltra Island Liveaboard Diving

Our guests rated liveaboard diving in Baltra Island as 9.2

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Liveaboard Diving in Baltra Island

What To Expect On A Baltra Island Liveaboard

Liveaboards to Baltra Island on Galapagos tend to head north where there are two islands: the small island Mosquera and the larger North Seymour with narrow channels separating them which offers superb diving. Baltra is one of the smaller Galapagos Islands, sized 21 km2. It's located 1 km north of the main island Santa Cruz, divided by a narrow strait.

In 1942, the Americans founded a military base on Baltra Island to protect the Panama Channel, with barracks and runways. After World War II the barracks were taken down but the airport is still being used as a commerical airport. Most tourists arrive at this airport after which they transfer to a liveaboard cruise on Santa Cruz.

Baltra Island is also known for having an iguana population until 1954. After the introduction of dogs, cats and goats the iguanas were threatened with extinction. To prevent this some iguanas were brought over to Seymour Norte and were iguanas bred in Santa Cruz. In 1991 the Galapagos iguana were newly introduced on Baltra Island.

BALTRA ISLAND UNDERWATER

Taking a liveaboard dive cruise around Baltra Island is as everywhere else in Galapagos, very rewarding. The abundance of fish life is spectacular and great schools of inshore grunts and snappers are encountered on nearly every dive, while immense schools of open water jacks, barracuda, bonito, eagle ray and scalloped hammerheads are regularly sighted. On top of this you can even find manta rays, wahoo, yellowfin tuna and even whale sharks. Also other exotic species are to be seen such as the rainbow basslet, red-lipped batfish, bloody frogfish, pacific seahorse, rockmover wrasse and galapagos clingfish. A dive trip to this area on a liveaboard will give divers maximum exposure to the amazing marine life to see in this very special area.

DIVE SITES OF BALTRA ISLAND

At North Seymour your liveabord vessel will allow you to dive on a rocky slope and end the dive in the shallow close to the island. Here you can see schools of jack fish, manta rays, eagle rays, marble rays, stingrays, marlins and hammerhead sharks. There are also many reef fish such as yellowtail grunts, bluestriped snappers and salemas in schools. The fish here attract birds like boobies that dive into the water and swim down to feed on the fish. You can also see sea lions here.

Mosquera is a large sand bank which lies north to south on a shallow area between Baltra and Seymore. There are two dive sites here: west beach that is known for the large population of sea lions on the western side and east mosquera.

At East Mosquera the dive starts at the southeast on a slope with boulders and then moves forward to the north. After the slope you drop down to the top of the wall at 15-22 meters with schools of grunts and snappers around you. The current can be strong in the channels north and south of Mosquera.

Daphne Island is located near the north coast of Santa Cruz Island, 30 minutes from Itabaca Channel. The moderate currents here make this dive a drift dive along a drop-off from the top of a sloping wall to a rocky and sandy bottom. There is a small cave where white tip reef sharks rest and a pinnacle with several rays accumulating, Galapagos sharks, turtles, reef fishes and barracudas. Inside the black coral walls you’ll find a variety of invertebrates.

TOP TIPS FOR DIVERS

Due to the remoteness of the Galapagos Islands and the associated costs of any medical treatment, we recommend guests to have sufficient dive-travel insurance.

Don't forget to charge your camera, and don't miss a shot.

GETTING TO BALTRA ISLAND

Flights arriving daily from continental Ecuador arriving from either Quito or Guayaquil. Arriving at Baltra passengers pass through the national park queue and pay a $100 park entrance fee. They then proceed to the luggage claim area.

Visiting the dive sites of Baltra Island is best done by Galapagos Islands liveaboard while most of the dive sites are quite far off shore requiring long journeys.

Baltra Island Diving Reviews

  • Rating 9.2 out of 10
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Rating 9.6 out of 10
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • David G
  • Flag of United StatesUnited States

Checkout dives for proper weighting then a land tour of Seymour Island with frigates, boobies, iguanas and sea lions.

Diving Baltra Island in February on the Humboldt Explorer
  • Rating 9.6 out of 10
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Carsten A
  • Flag of United StatesUnited States

Effective Check-out dive and second dive

Diving Baltra Island in February on the Tiburon Explorer
  • Rating 9.2 out of 10
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Cindy B
  • Flag of United StatesUnited States

Good first dive site to get accustomed to the water temperature and current. We did see both dolphins and polo whales from the boat

Diving Baltra Island in November on the Humboldt Explorer
  • Rating 9.2 out of 10
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Ann P
  • Flag of United StatesUnited States

Land excursion to see giant tortouse and shopping in small town was a great experience. Airport was also easy access to and from boat and also great gift stores.

Diving Baltra Island in July on the Galapagos Aggressor III

What to know about diving in Baltra Island

Where is Baltra Island?

Baltra is a small, flat island in the center of the Galapagos archipelago, just north of Santa Cruz Island across the narrow Itabaca Channel. It's not a wildlife destination in itself — it's the location of the Galapagos' main airport.

How do you get to Baltra Island?

Nearly everyone arrives by plane — Baltra's Seymour Airport is one of only two airports serving the Galapagos, with daily flights from Quito and Guayaquil. From there, most travelers transfer by bus and ferry across the Itabaca Channel to reach Santa Cruz or their waiting liveaboard.

Why is the Galapagos airport on Baltra instead of a more central island?

Baltra's flat, dry terrain made it ideal for a runway, and the island already had one thanks to a US military airbase built there during World War II to help protect the Panama Canal. Ecuador inherited the airstrip after the war, and it has remained the region's main gateway ever since.

Is there anything to see on Baltra Island?

Not really — Baltra has no official visitor sites, and most travelers pass straight through en route to their cruise or liveaboard. Its main wildlife claim is a population of land iguanas, reintroduced in 1991 after the original population went extinct during WWII military occupation.

Do liveaboards depart from Baltra?

Some do, though many Galapagos liveaboards actually depart from nearby Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz or from San Cristóbal, with Baltra serving primarily as the flight gateway. Your specific pickup point depends on the operator and itinerary.

How big is Baltra Island?

Baltra covers about 8 square miles (21 sq km) and reaches a maximum elevation of roughly 328 ft (100 m). It's a geologically distinct "uplifted" island, meaning it rose from the seafloor rather than forming from volcanic activity like most of its neighbors.

How far is Baltra from Santa Cruz Island?

Just a short hop — the two islands are separated by the narrow Itabaca Channel, crossed by a 5-to-10-minute ferry ride, followed by a roughly 40-minute bus transfer to reach Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz's main town. It's a quick, well-organized transfer most tour operators handle for you.

Can you dive near Baltra Island?

Baltra itself isn't a dive destination, but nearby sites like Punta Carrión and Mosquera Islet, both a short boat ride away, are popular check-out dives for divers starting or ending their Galapagos trip near the airport. Most liveaboard itineraries use these as their first or last dive of the cruise.

What wildlife lives on Baltra?

Baltra is home to a reintroduced population of Galapagos land iguanas, along with finches and some seabirds, but it lacks the wildlife density found on islands like Fernandina or Isabela. Its dry, sparse terrain reflects its history as an airfield rather than a nature reserve.

Do you need a permit to visit Baltra?

Every visitor entering the Galapagos, including those arriving through Baltra's airport, needs the standard $100–$200 national park entry fee and a $20 Transit Control Card as of 2026, though Baltra itself has no separate visitor-site permit since it isn't an official park site.

What airlines fly to Baltra?

As of 2026, carriers including Avianca and LATAM operate daily flights to Baltra's Seymour Airport from both Quito and Guayaquil. Flight schedules can shift seasonally, so it's worth confirming routes when booking.

Is Baltra the same as Seymour Airport?

Yes — the Galapagos' main airport is officially called Seymour Airport, named for nearby Seymour Island, but it's located on Baltra and is commonly referred to simply as Baltra. Locals and travelers use "Baltra" and "the Galapagos airport" interchangeably.

How long is the layover between arriving at Baltra and starting a cruise?

Most itineraries build in same-day transfers, with cruise or liveaboard staff meeting passengers at the airport and taking them directly to the boat, often for an afternoon departure. The whole process, from landing to boarding, typically takes one to two hours including the channel crossing.

Is Baltra Island inhabited?

Only in a functional sense — a small number of airport, military, and park staff live there to support operations, but there's no town or permanent civilian settlement. Most workers actually commute from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz.

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