Baltra Island is also known as South Seymour. This is where Galapagos’ main airport is located. Arriving visitors will be met by the naturalist guide or another cruise boat crew member holding a sign with the boat’s name. Then there is a short bus ride from the airport to the harbor where the boats wait for the passengers to start the cruise.

Baltra Airport was built by the US Army during World War II to protect the Panama Canal. During this period, most of the island’s native fauna was wiped out. Land iguanas have only recently been successfully reintroduced. They can be seen near the airport.

Baltra is currently an Ecuadorian naval base and is not within the boundaries of the Galapagos National Park.