Santa Cruz Bay Tour & Snorkeling: Sharks, Sea Lions & Galapagos

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.53 (30 reviews) 43% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/9

Duration3h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Four Snorkeling Stops in One Day Around Santa Cruz Island

You visit four snorkeling sites around Santa Cruz in one day: a sea lion colony, a shark channel, a narrow canal between rock walls, and a freshwater inlet. The boat carries no more than ten people, your guide speaks English and Spanish, and snacks keep you going through the afternoon. Bring a wetsuit or rent one — the water is cool even near the equator.

Step-by-step itinerary

The Experience

You're probably wondering if you'll actually see sharks in the Galapagos, or if that's just what the brochures say. The answer is yes — but not the way you'd think. On this Santa Cruz bay tour, the boat takes you to the shark channel, a natural formation carved by old volcanic pressure, and from the water you watch them move through their space like they own it, which they do. They're not hunting tourists. They're just there, and you're in their view.

The day starts at La Loberia, a small islet named for the sea lion colony that hauls out on the rocks. You snorkel in the water around them, and the fish here are dense and colorful — parrotfish, surgeonfish, things with names you'll forget but colors you won't. After that, the boat heads to Punta Estrada, a calm gulf where you can see terns and boobies working the surface while you're below looking at the seabed. The guide points out the basaltic formations, the geological story written in rock, and then you're back in the boat heading to Lover's Canal, a narrow fissure of still water between two rock walls. It's quieter there, more intimate, and the snorkeling is good. Last stop is Las Grietas — an inlet where fresh water, brackish water and salt water meet, which sounds strange but makes for excellent visibility and a different kind of marine life.

The boat holds a maximum of 10 people, which means you're not fighting through crowds at any of the stops. Your guide is bilingual and knows the species, the geology, the timing of when to get in and when to get out. Snacks are included, which matters because you're in the sun all day and the boat doesn't stop at a restaurant. Transportation is handled — you don't arrange your own way to the dock or figure out which boat is yours. What you do arrange is showing up on time. If you're arriving the same day from Baltra airport, the afternoon departure waits for no one, so factor in flight delays and the drive from the airport before you book the same-day slot.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or port pickup (confirm with the operator), transportation to and from the dock, a professional bilingual guide, all four snorkeling stops with time in the water at each location, snacks throughout the day, and all taxes and fees.
Snorkel gear is not mentioned as included, so confirm rental or bring your own.
National Park entry fees are not included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by BM TOURS SA

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to snorkel four different Galapagos sites in one day without arranging your own boat, guide or timing — the small group size and fixed schedule are what make it possible to hit all four stops and still have time underwater at each one.