This will be your first (and last) exposure to the Galapagos. Baltra has one of the two airports in the Islands.  The U.S. military originally constructed this airport during World War II, and during this period most of the indigenous fauna of the island was exterminated. Land iguanas have only recently been successfully re-introduced and can be seen near the airport. Baltra is currently an Ecuadorian naval base and is not within the boundaries of Galapagos National Park. This is the place where TAME Airlines operates in the Islands. The Airport is just a short bus ride from the harbor where all our cruises start.