How to travel between the Galápagos Islands
There are two ways to move between the inhabited Galápagos Islands: the public passenger speedboat and a light aircraft. The boat is the normal choice — it costs a fraction of the flight and links all four islands — but every route passes through Santa Cruz, so any journey that does not start or end at Puerto Ayora means a connection.
Direct routes
Santa Cruz ⇄ San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz ⇄ Isabela and Santa Cruz ⇄ Floreana all have a direct crossing. Each leaves from the passenger pier in Puerto Ayora and takes around two hours.
Connecting routes
San Cristóbal ⇄ Isabela, San Cristóbal ⇄ Floreana and Isabela ⇄ Floreana have no direct crossing. You travel in two legs via Puerto Ayora: the morning boat into Santa Cruz, an afternoon boat onward. With the layover, the day can reach nine hours.
Ferry or flight
The light aircraft takes about 30 minutes instead of two hours and avoids seasickness, but costs several times more, carries little luggage and flies only a few times a week. The boat is cheaper, runs daily on the main routes, and does not need to be booked as far ahead.
Building a multi-island itinerary
Use Santa Cruz as your base and alternate: Santa Cruz → Isabela, back to Santa Cruz, then Santa Cruz → San Cristóbal. That avoids the long connections and keeps every leg a direct morning or afternoon crossing.