Walking Trails on Santiago Island

Anyone expecting a walking-tour scene on Santiago Island will find none. There is no town, no market, no pavement and no map-and-go route, because the Galapagos island has no residents at all. The walks that do exist are park trails, and each one is led by a licensed naturalist for a group that arrives by boat.

How the walks compare

Walk Rough length Ground
Sullivan Bay about 1.5 km young lava, ropey and cracked, no shade
Puerto Egas coast about 2 km lava shelf and black sand
Espumilla Beach short, about an hour with snorkeling sand, wet landing

Sullivan Bay

Expect to cross a flow that cooled in the late 19th century. The route passes hornitos and then tree molds about 150 m in. Steps are uneven and the rock can be sharp, so sturdy closed shoes matter more than anything else you pack.

Puerto Egas

The path follows the shore above the black-sand beach, with Galapagos fur seals and young sea lions beside it. An optional, longer trail on some itineraries heads inland towards the rim of an old salt crater, and the lagoon itself is closed. Ask the guide in advance which route the group will follow.

Espumilla Beach

This is the easy outing. A short hike is paired with snorkeling, and the beach is a nesting site for green turtles. The landing is wet.

What to carry

Wear closed shoes for lava and bring a hat, sunscreen and water. For wet landings, shoes or sandals that can get wet are useful. A camera is welcome, but flash is banned near wildlife and drones are not allowed anywhere in the park.

Walking etiquette

The group moves at the pace of the slowest walker and halts when animals block the path. Stay 2 m away from them, do not use flash, and do not leave the marked route. Large male sea lions can be aggressive.

Getting to the start

You reach the trails by cruise ship or on a full-day boat trip from Santa Cruz, with a hotel pickup near 6:00, about 40 minutes by road and then about 2 hours by boat. Foreign adults pay a $200 park fee, and the Transit Control Card is $20.

For rules and fees see the Galapagos Conservancy page and the government fee table .

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