Santiago Island Activities in the Galapagos

October 31, 2026

Santiago, also called San Salvador or James Island, lies inside Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. It covers about 585 square kilometres and has no residents, so every visit is a guided boat outing, either on a multi-day cruise or on a full-day trip from Santa Cruz. The activities below are the ones that run at its visitor sites.

Walk the Sullivan Bay lava field

Sullivan Bay is a young lava flow from the late 19th century, commonly dated to 1897. The ropey pahoehoe surface is crossed on a path of roughly 1.5 km, and tree molds, the casts left where lava wrapped around trunks, start about 150 m from the beginning of the trail. There is no shade, so wear sturdy closed shoes and a hat.

Meet fur seals at Puerto Egas

Puerto Egas, in James Bay, has a black-sand beach and a lava shelf where Galapagos fur seals and young sea lions share the rocky coast. Tours here include a coastal walk of about 2 km, and some offer swimming or snorkeling from the beach. Landings are wet or dry depending on conditions.

Snorkel with a guide

Operators list Puerto Egas, Sullivan Bay and Espumilla Beach as snorkel stops. The water is cool from June to November, so bring or rent a wetsuit. Espumilla has reddish-gold sand, a wet landing and a short hike. Green turtles nest on the beach, and the lagoon behind it holds white-cheeked pintails and sometimes flamingos.

Dive at Cousins Rock

Cousins Rock is a rock about 10 m high north-east of Santiago. Day dives run from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, and diving liveaboards visit it too. Sharks and rays are commonly seen, the currents are moderate, and the site suits intermediate divers.

Park rules

Go only with a park-authorised naturalist guide.
Stay at least 2 m (6 ft) from wildlife, even when an animal comes close.
Do not use flash on wildlife, and do not fly drones in the park or marine reserve.
Big male sea lions can be aggressive, so keep the distance.

Fees to budget

The park entrance fee for foreign visitors aged 12 and over is $200, and $100 for under 12s; children under 2 are exempt. Rangers collect it at Baltra and San Cristobal airports, so bring US dollar cash as a backup. The Transit Control Card costs $20 per person and is bought online or at the counter in Quito or Guayaquil before check-in. See the official fee table for the other categories.

Before you go

Ecuador is rated Level 2 (exercise increased caution) by the US State Department overall. The UK FCDO’s regional-risks page lists no warning for the Galapagos, and if you connect through Guayaquil it advises checking with your airline that you stay airside.

Compare guided boat trips on GetYourGuide before you choose.