Until 1986, Baltra was the only airport serving the Galápagos. Now there are two airports, the other located on San Cristobal Island; most flights operating in and out of Galápagos still fly into Baltra.  Isla Baltra is often the first island visitors to the Galapagos Archipelago put their foot on as it is home to main the main airport, Seymour Airport. The airport was built by the Americans during the World War II. During WW II Baltra was established as a US Air Force Base. Crews stationed at Baltra patrolled the Pacific for enemy submarines as well as providing protection for the Panama Canal. After the war the facilities were given to the government of Ecuador. Today the island continues as an official Ecuadorian military base. 

This island sits just 1 km off the northern coast of Isla Santa Cruz and has no real tourist attractions. It has an area of 27 sq. km. Access to Santa Cruz Island is across the Itabaca Channel. The island serves as a small navy base for Ecuador. 

During the 1930's scientists decided to move 70 of Baltra's Land Iguanas to the neighboring island of North Seymour as part of an experiment. This move had unexpected results for during the WWII military occupation of Baltra, the native iguanas became extinct on the island. During the 1980's iguanas from North Seymour were brought to the Darwin Station as part of a breeding and repopulation project and in the 1990's land iguanas were reintroduced to Baltra.