Guided Tours of Santiago Island
Tours of Santiago Island, one of the Galapagos islands in Ecuador, are all led by a licensed naturalist guide, because the island is uninhabited and independent landings are not possible. There are no city tours, bus tours, museums or theatres here. What you can book are boat-based shore visits, a long day trip from Santa Cruz, and dive outings.
Naturalist-guided shore walks
Cruise ships and day-tour yachts land groups at two main walking sites.
- Puerto Egas (James Bay): a coastal walk along a lava shelf where Galapagos fur seals and young sea lions rest. Some itineraries add swimming or snorkeling from the black-sand beach.
- Sullivan Bay: a walk across a young lava flow with ropey surfaces and tree molds, about 150 m from the start of the path.
The guide sets the pace, explains the geology and keeps the group at the required 2 m from wildlife. Landings are wet or dry depending on conditions, so ask the operator what footwear to bring.
Full-day Bartolome and Sullivan Bay tour
Many operators in Puerto Ayora sell a full-day yacht trip that pairs Bartolome, the main event, with a Sullivan Bay walk on Santiago. Hotel pickup is early, about 6:00. The road leg to the Itabaca channel takes about 40 minutes and the boat ride about 2 hours. Boats usually return in the late afternoon, around 17:00 to 18:00, so check the return time when you book.
Prices differ by where you book. Local agencies in Puerto Ayora quote about $250 per person, booking platforms list roughly $296 to $364, and one international platform shows up to about $550. A wetsuit is usually extra.
Day dives to Cousins Rock
Dive centres in Puerto Ayora run day trips to Bartolome and Cousins Rock, with dive sites about 1.5 hours from the Itabaca channel. A daily dive tour is priced at $270. Cousins Rock is a rock about 10 m high north-east of Santiago, where sharks and rays are commonly seen.
Tips for choosing a tour
- Ask which Santiago sites are on the itinerary, since itineraries vary.
- Ask whether the park fee and wetsuit are included.
- Confirm the operator’s guide is park-authorised.
- Bring sun protection, because the lava has no shade.
The Galapagos park entrance fee for foreign visitors aged 12 and over is $200, collected by rangers at the airport, and the official fee table lists the other categories. The Galapagos Conservancy park rules set out what guides enforce, including no flash on wildlife and no drones.
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Read more: activities on Santiago , day trips and walking tours .