Liveaboard Trips Visiting Santiago

Santiago Island has no lodging of any kind, which is why overnight visits happen on a ship. Two kinds of liveaboard call there: general sightseeing cruises and dedicated dive boats. Both move between islands while you sleep and land small groups under the eye of a licensed naturalist.

Sightseeing cruises

A sightseeing cruise puts you ashore for walks and snorkel stops. On Santiago, the landings that operators commonly list are:

  1. Puerto Egas in James Bay, for fur seals, young sea lions and a black-sand beach.
  2. Sullivan Bay, for the lava flow and its tree molds.
  3. Espumilla Beach, for turtle nesting, a lagoon and a short hike.
  4. Buccaneer Cove, for cliffs and sea stacks, mainly seen from a panga.

Nearby stops that often sit alongside them include Bartolome, Rabida and the cone of Sombrero Chino. Itineraries differ, so read each one to see which Santiago sites it names. Ships mentioned on gogalapagos.com include Galapagos Legend and Coral I and II. Prices are set per cabin and depend on the class of ship, and no single price applies, so request quotes in writing.

Dive liveaboards

Dive boats schedule Cousins Rock, a small rock north-east of Santiago. Sharks and rays are regularly seen. Currents are moderate, which makes it a fit for intermediate divers rather than beginners.

Questions for the operator

  • Which Santiago landings are on my exact dates?
  • Which snorkel stops come with a guide, and is a wetsuit provided?
  • Is the park fee or the Transit Control Card included in the fare?
  • How are one-person bookings priced, if you travel alone?
  • What is the policy if sea conditions change a landing?

What a landing is like

Landings can be wet, meaning you step into shallow water from a small boat, or dry, onto rock, and the type depends on sea conditions. Pack sandals or shoes that can get wet, plus closed shoes for the lava. The sun is strong and the lava gives no shade.

Money to set aside

  • Park entrance fee, foreign visitors aged 12 and over: $200; under 12: $100; under 2: exempt.
  • Transit Control Card: $20 per person, bought online or at the counter in Quito or Guayaquil.
  • Wetsuit hire: normally extra.

Rangers collect the park fee at Baltra and San Cristobal airports. Keep US dollar cash as backup. More on categories is on the government fee page .

Look for cruise options on GetYourGuide .

Read more: day trips , activities , the 7-day Galapagos itinerary and the Galapagos Islands guide .