“A wonderful walk on a fully boarded walkway to the top of the island gives you the best views of the islands. The waters were crystal clear for snorkeling, take plenty of water and sturdy shoes “– Michelle. North Carolina, USA.
Bartolome is an island, located off the east coast of Santiago. It is named after Sir Bartholomew James Sullivan, a lifelong naturalist friend of Charles Darwin. Due to its gorgeous panoramic views, Bartolome is one of the most popular visitor sites in the Galapagos archipelago. This island offers one of the most amazing landscapes in Galapagos featuring an extinct volcano and a variety of orange, green, red and black volcanic formations.
Every day
5:30 - 7:00
8 - 10 hours
Shared
Tuesdays to Sundays
5:30 - 7:00
8 - 10 hours
Shared
The Bartolome Island day tour begins early in the morning to take advantage of the best hours of light. We will travel from Puerto Ayora by van or bus to the Itabaca channel, where our boat will be waiting for us to sail to Bartolome Island.
Once in Bartolome Island, we will disembark for a short walk that will allow us to reach the island’s natural viewpoint, with a height of 115 meters above sea level. From here we can enjoy a 360-degree view, which includes views of the nearby islands and the famous Pinnacle Rock. Besides spectacular views, Bartolome Island has an intriguing geological past. The island’s exact age hasn’t been able to be determined, but based on its characteristics; it is considered one of the youngest islands in this area. From the viewpoint, it is also possible to appreciate other interesting formations, such as the parasitic cones, formed by prior lava eruptions.
This Bartolome Island day tour includes, besides the viewpoint, another visit to the nearby beaches: the north beach, where we will be able to enjoy the sea; the south beach, where we will be able to go on a walk to observe rays and blue sharks; however, swimming or snorkeling is not allowed in this beach because it is nesting site for sea turtles.
To finish the day, we will visit Sullivan bay, which is located next to Bartolome Island. This bay features an interesting recently formed lava field. We will snorkel in the bay’s calm waters. After this visit, we will return to Puerto Ayora.
Activities: Walking, swimming, snorkeling (superficial diving) and wildlife observation.
Wildlife: Blue sharks, lava heron, zayapas (Galapagos crab), Galapagos Gavilan, sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, rays, tropical fish, among others.
Departure Location: Hotel pick up or Meeting Point (depends on provider at the moment of booking).
Return Location: Hotel pick up or Meeting Point (depends on provider at the moment of booking).
To participate in this tour, you must be at san Santa Cruz (Puerto Ayora) one day prior to departure.
The itinerary might change due to regulations of the Galapagos National park or weather conditions.
Please consider that in order to protect the environment of the Galapagos Islands, the Government of Ecuador has banned the use of shopping plastic bags, plastic straws and polyethylene containers in the Archipelago. Visitors to the islands are not allowed to bring these objects with them. This measure is effective as of May 2018.
We thank you for collaboration in protecting the Galapagos pristine ecosystem.
“A wonderful walk on a fully boarded walkway to the top of the island gives you the best views of the islands. The waters were crystal clear for snorkeling, take plenty of water and sturdy shoes “– Michelle. North Carolina, USA.
