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Last updated on August 23, 2023
From the top of Bartolome Island, visitors can enjoy one of the most spectacular sceneries in the Galápagos archipelago. The views of the little golden beaches of the Bartolome isthmus, the famous Pinnacle Rock, and the lunar-like landscape of the Santa Cruz Island studded with craters and lava flows are simply breathtaking. But this magnificent landscape is also home to many more wonders: sharks, turtles, penguins, sea lions, and hundreds of colorful fish. Bartolome is simply one of the most beautiful snorkeling sites in the whole archipelago.
Bartolome is a small volcanic island just a few hundred meters off the east coast of Santiago. This unmissable site is a very popular cruise stopover, which is probably the most pleasant way to visit the island. Bartolome is also accessible during day boat trips from Porto Ayora, located on Santa Cruz Island, the closest inhabited island.
Most of tours offered by local companies include a visit of Bartolome, a hike to its famous viewpoint, and a snorkeling time along the shore. The price ranges from $220 to $250/person, including lunch, refreshments and snorkeling equipment. However, the journey is long (a 45-minute drive and a 2-hour boat trip) and the availability of such tours is not guaranteed.
You will enter the water from your boat.
The most famous snorkeling spot of Bartolome extends along the southern coast of the island. Depending on sea conditions and instructions from the National Park, the snorkeling session can be moved to a nearby area, around Bartolome or in Sullivan Bay, which faces the island.
The southern coast of Bartolome is relatively steep, with 13 to 33ft/4 to 10 meters-deep seabeds. You will follow your guide along the coast to discover the underwater life of the island.
The shallower rocky areas (↕1-2m/3-6.5ft) offer the chance to spot colorful fishes, such as bluebarred parrotfish, king angelfish, the Mexican hogfish, or even some fearful squirrelfish, which gather in the dark, under the rocks.
Schools of razor surgeonfish graze from one rock to the other. You can also spot in some places hundreds of starfish, mainly Galápagos starfish – the most common ones, mostly red – and chocolate starfish, yellow and smaller. Bartolome Island is also visited by many green sea turtles, which can be observed either in shallow water or on the surface.
In the deep sandy areas (↕6-10m/20-33ft), you may spot stingrays, whitetip reef sharks, as well as huge schools of grunt.
Inquisitive sea lions are also common visitors to the site. The luckiest snorkelers can also expect swimming with Galápagos penguins, which have settled on the island. Undisturbed by the human presence, they may even approach the snorkelers before diving into deeper water searching for food.
Bartolome is an uninhabited island, entirely natural and protected by the Galápagos National Park, where no water and food can be purchased. Cruise and boat-trip operators provide food and beverages.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
Had a wonderful time here – probably the best snorkel on our Galapagos vacation. Observed white tip reef shark, sea lions, a marine iguana, and penguins. Schools of crimson soldierfish and black striped salema were plentiful. I also saw lots of the common Galapagos reef fish, including guineafowl puffer, cornetfish, flag cabrilla, panamic fanged blenny, and bicolor parrotfish.
Many thanks for your comment, species list was updated!
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
