Our Santa Fe Island Tour is the ultimate experience to swim with the Galapagos Sea Lions who are very friendly and love to imitate swimmers (especially the young sea lions). Often they play and do tricks under the water. This is a very unique wildlife experience, so make sure your GoPro or underwater camera is fully charged!

After snorkelling, your guide and captain will navigate along the Santa Fe shore, looking for Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds. It will take approximately 25 minutes to get to Playa Escondida; where mangroves, a beautiful white sand beach, and the famous Galapagos Marine Iguanas will welcome you. This will be the time to relax on the beach before your return in the late afternoon.

Highlights:

• Private pick up from Hotel (charter only)
• Fishing at Santa Fe’s Drop-off
• Eat your own catch* (sashimi or grilled)
• Snorkeling with sea lions, turtles, rays and more
• Sea bird watching on board
• Relaxing at Playa Escondida (white sand beach)

Sites Visited:

• Santa Fe’s Drop-off
• La Botella or Santa Fe Bay
• Playa Escondida

Included:

• Fishing gear
• Snacks and lunch
• Sodas, beers and hot drinks
• Snorkeling gear and towels
• Naturalist & Marine Reserve Guide

Surrounded by marine iguanas, lava rocks, red mangroves and the ocean, the La Fe ecosystem (about 20 minutes by boat from Puerto Ayora) is a wonderful destination to explore land and sea for the day.

Upon arrival, step foot on the island and follow your guide through a narrow trail surrounded by Candelabra Cactus, leading you to the Red Mangrove jungle. Continue along the trail until reaching the shoreline where black basaltic lava, ulva seaweed, Blue Footed Boobies and Sally Lightfoot Crabs create a unique contrast of colors. Here, you will get to witness a sea lion colony and plenty of marine iguanas blending in with the black basaltic lave, soaking up the sun.

Next, return to the boat with your guide and prepare to snorkel some of the world’s healthiest mangroves from the surface of the water. Going carefully in-between, around, and alongside the reefs and mangroves, prepare to have close encounters with friendly sea turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, tropical fish, and more! This is a fantastic experience for nature lovers, families, and honeymooners.

Duration: 6 – 7 hours

Highlights:

• Private pick up from Hotel (charter only)
• Exploring La Fe
• Snorkeling with marine iguanas, sea turtles, sea lions and more
• Fishing at San Luis Seamount
• Eat your own catch* (sashimi or grilled)

Sites Visited:

• La Fe
• San Luis Seamount

Included:

• Fishing gear
• Snacks and lunch
• Sodas, beers and hot drinks
• Snorkelling gear and towels
• Naturalist & Marine Reserve Guide

One of the best kept secrets in Darwin’s archipelago, this special access experience takes you to one of the best places in the Galapagos Islands to snorkel, the San Louis Seamount.

What is a seamount? A seamount is an underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity that scientists identify as a biological hotspot because of the diverse array of aquatic life.

Our guide (an English-speaking Galapagueño) and his captain will greet you at sea (if you are chartering a private yacht with us) or will pick you up at a local pier (if you are staying on land). Once aboard the small motorboat, our captain takes you to the San Louis Seamount where you will get to watch a rarely witnessed phenomenon: a multi-species feeding frenzy while in the water. While this may sound dangerous, remember: animals in The Galapagos are highly protected which makes them less fearful of human presence. You will be able to float at the surface observing a “bait ball” of small fish, while blue-footed boobies, marlin, sea lions, the occasional penguin, and even dolphins come to feed.

This experience is ideal for adventurous families and groups. This is aquatic adventure you’ve never witnessed before.

Highlights:

• Private pick up at sea or at a pier
• Floating with mask and snorkel as you watch a feeding frenzy

Sites Visited:

• San Louis Seamount

Included:

• Snacks and lunch
• Sodas, beers and hot drinks
• Snorkeling gear and towels
• Our guide (an English-speaking Galapagueño)

Getting to see a volcano up close is a rare experience indeed. Sierra Negra is one of five active volcanoes located on Isabela Island.

Depending on the group’s speed, this excursion takes 5 – 6 hours. The hike is not technically difficult, but be ready for physical exertion, and bring a rain coat incase it rains.

At the base of Sierra Negra, we are joined by our knowledgeable guide and our hike begins. The first portion of the hike is a walk through lush vegetation with local birds flitting about. Green surroundings take us all the way to the rim of the volcano where the volcano’s expansive caldera all of a sudden comes into view. Sierra Negra’s caldera is an incredible 6 miles wide and the views are breathtaking – with the blues of the ocean below, the rich dark hues of the crater, and the green of plants creeping over the rim. Often the volcano can be misty and rainy, adding an always changing atmospheric dimension.

Your guide explains eons of volcanic activity in the Galapagos, the life-giving interplay of mineral-rich lava and rock, as well as the ecosystem’s plants and birds. Exploration of the crater is followed by lunch and then we make our way back to the Sierra Negra park entrance.

Included:

• Travel to and from the base of Sierra Negra Volcano
• Your guide
• Lunch, snacks + water

Popper, jiggin and fly fishing on the hunt for Yellow Fin Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Amber Jack and Galapagos Grouper are possible all year round in the Galapagos.

With Galapagos authorities being very serious about conservation, fish are abundant in these waters. We partner with fishermen who are committed to marine and species conservation. Ask us and we’ll arrange a memorable half-day of fishing that fits beautifully into your itinerary.

Snorkeling at Daphne Mayor is truly an experience you will never forget. Along the steep walls of Daphne Island, there are various marine aquatic species. Expect to see and interact with manta rays, sea lions, various shark species and large schools of tropical reef fish.

Daphne Mayor Island is located off the northern shore of Santa Cruz island, and is only a 15-minute boat ride from the Itabaca Channel and Baltra Airport. This experience is ideal for travelers who are seeking an exciting day of snorkeling without the hassle of a long navigation (especially for those prone to sea sickness).

This island also offers a wonderful display of seabirds nesting on its cliffs and your English-speaking naturalist guide can identify the birds if you are curious. The northwest side of the island is the best birding opportunity (our guides will have binoculars available). Get ready to see Lava Gulls, Swallow Tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, Noddies, Blue-footed Boobies, Medium Ground Finches and Frigate Birds.

En route we will fish along the Tiburon Arrecho seamount and make a lunch stop to grill your catch at Bahia Borrero, a spectacular white sand beach, known for the high numbers of breeding sea turtles in shallow waters during the months of December to March. (or opt out of fishing and just snorkel and bird-watch for a half-day experience).

Duration: 6 – 7 hours

Highlights:

• Private pick up from Hotel (charter only)
• Bird watching and snorkeling at Daphne Mayor
• Eat your own catch* (sashimi or grilled)
• Snorkeling with mantas, sea lions, sharks and more
• Relaxing at Bahia Borrero (white sand beach)

Sites Visited:

• Daphne Mayor
• Tiburon Arrecho
• Bahia Borrero

Included:

• Fishing gear
• Snacks and lunch
• Sodas, beers and hot drinks
• Snorkelling gear and towels
• Naturalist & Marine Reserve Guide

With calm crystalline waters and the opportunity to swim with penguins, tropical fish, reef sharks and rays … no wonder Pinzon Island is one of the top snorkelling destinations in The Galapagos.

Beginning from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, your guide and captain navigate to Pinzon Island to explore Penguin Bay and Dumb Islet. Penguin Bay is a calm, clear, shallow cove, full of marine fauna, at the eastern side of the island. This location is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with penguins. Did you know that the Galapagos Penguin is the only penguin species found north of the equator? In the Galapagos, the cool waters of the Humboldt and Cromwell currents converge allowing the penguins to survive.

Besides swimming with penguins, the calm waters make for relaxing snorkelling (great for families with children). While here, there’s a good chance you’ll have encounters with sub-tropical reef fish, reef sharks and rays.

Next, continue to Dumb Islet at Pinzon’s North Shore, where a deep, steep wall awaits – perfect for free diving and snorkelling. These waters are home to manta rays and a large variety of pelagic fish. On occasion, groups of Bottle Nose Dolphins swim through the area. With luck and some effort one can spot the famous Galapagos Red Lipped Bat Fish resting on the ocean floor.

There will be one last stop at La Fe or Las Palmas (on the way back to Santra Cruz) for exploring and relaxing. Both places have beautiful forests of Mangroves and Opuntia cacti growing near the shoreline.

Duration: 6-7 hours

Highlights:

• Private pick up from Hotel (charter only)
• Fishing at Nameless Rock
• Eat your own catch* (sashimi or grilled)
• Snorkeling with turtles, rays, sharks and more
• Searh for Galapagos Red Lipped Bat Fish
• Relaxing at La Fe or Las Palmas

Sites Visited:

• Penguin Bay
• Dumb Islet
• La Fe or Las Palmas

Included:

• Fishing gear
• Snacks and lunch
• Sodas, beers and hot drinks
• Snorkelling gear and towels
• Naturalist & Marine Reserve Guide

Some travellers like to pack their itineraries with activities. Some less so. Everyone is different. Let us know how much R&R you want, so we can craft an itinerary that gets it right.

Most itineraries include downtime each day. Boat-based itineraries have lots of on-the-water cruising time, giving travellers time to slow down and observe the sea, the birds, and the island landscapes as you island hop. All our recommended boats for cruising the islands have deck lounges, with many of the private yachts and larger boats having multiple decks and ensuite private balconies. If you choose a land-based itinerary, all our recommended accommodations have spaces for you to chill.