Located in the central part of the Galápagos archipelago, the small, flat island of Baltra (also known as South Seymour Island) is the only island not included within the Galápagos National Park, as it serves primarily as the site of the archipelago’s main airport and a small Ecuadorian military base. With its starkly arid landscape and sparse vegetation of prickly pear cacti, salt bushes and palo santo trees, arriving here can feel like landing on another planet. As Baltra is a designated non-visitor site, travellers are swiftly transferred by bus to one of two docks, where they board either a cruise ship or a ferry bound for nearby Santa Cruz Island.