Artisan Fishing Experience

 

Charter a private boat with a licensed local fisherman and spend a full day at sea exploring the waters around Santa Cruz Island, including spots that are off-limits to cruise boats and otherwise inaccessible to tourists.

The day includes not only fishing, but also a snorkeling excursion, time on a secluded beach and, fingers crossed, eating a freshly caught tuna on board. All with a professional and friendly crew we have partnered with for years.

The experience is included in the Family Safari and can be added to any of our other Safaris.

We offer two options: the Artisan Fishing Experience and the Deluxe Fishing Experience.

 

The boat is a simple, fully equipped motorboat, as pictured above on our Graduation Safari.

The captain is a Santa Cruz fisherman who has worked these waters for years. The route follows the southern coastline to one of two fishing areas:

• Playa Escondida – Punta Camaño
• La Fe – Punta Camaño

These are working fishing grounds, the kind that don’t appear on cruise itineraries and can’t be reached without a licensed local at the helm.

 

 

Fishing

 

The crew gives a hands-on introduction, then guests try their luck. Yellowfin tuna and palometa are the most common catch.

Time spent fishing is flexible and adjusted on the day according to the guests’ preferences.

 

 

Snorkeling

 

Between fishing, the boat will navigate to an approved snorkeling site. Your naturalist guide will lead this excursion, keeping an eye out for creatures both above and below the surface. Sea lions, rays, and turtles are just a few of the iconic species regularly seen in the water.

 

Beach

 

The boat anchors near a secluded beach accessible only by sea, giving guests another chance to enjoy time in the water, as well as time to unwind on the beach, in a location few visitors get access to, and well away from the cruise ship crowds.

 

 

 

 

Lunch on board

 

Food is not permitted on the beach or in the National Park, so lunch is served on the boat. If tuna was caught, the crew prepares fresh sashimi on board.

Water, juice, coffee, and ginger tea are included throughout the day. Additional drinks can be arranged from the Camp in advance.

Note on conditions: the southern route can be cooler and choppier during the dry season (July–December). Guests prone to motion sickness should flag this when planning and our Safari Designers can advise.

 

This option takes place aboard a newer, more spacious fishing boat, navigating the northern waters of Santa Cruz towards the small islet of Daphne.

 

 

The vessel has greater capacity and is accompanied by a dedicated onboard cook who prepares freshly made dishes throughout the day, including sashimi and ceviche.

 

 

The day follows the same structure as the artisan option above, with fishing, snorkelling, beach time, and lunch on board, just with an upgraded vessel, a dedicated onboard cook, and a different route.

Guests interested in the Deluxe Fishing Experience are invited to discuss this option with their Safari Designer when planning their stay.

 

 

This experience operates under the Galapagos National Park’s Pesca Vivencial (Vivencial Fishing) programme, a regulated framework that reserves the right to offer tourist fishing exclusively to licensed local fishermen.

It was designed to give fishing families a sustainable alternative to commercial fishing, and to keep the economic benefit of tourism within the community, while easing the pressure of overfishing in the archipelago.

Our fishing partners on Santa Cruz are among our closest and longest-standing relationships.

 

Both options work for families with young children, multi-generational groups, teenagers, and couples.

No fishing experience is needed.

Because the boat is chartered privately, the day belongs entirely to your group — the pace, the balance between fishing, swimming, and beach time, all of it.

The private charter model also makes this particularly good value for groups of four or more travelling together.

The focus is time together, offline, in one of the world’s most biodiverse marine reserves, and it is consistently rated as a safari highlight among our guests.

 

Dolphins occasionally follow the boat’s wake. Sea lions, turtles, rays and schools of colorful fish are commonly seen below water.

 

 

Frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, oystercatchers and numerous other coastal birds work the skies and coastlines above.

 

 

Read more: Wildlife Seen on our Safaris

 

Is sport fishing allowed in the Galapagos?

No. Sport fishing is prohibited in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The only form of legal recreational fishing for tourists is Pesca Vivencial — a programme regulated by the Galapagos National Park that can only be offered by licensed local fishermen. Our experience operates within this framework. Boats are inspected, catch limits apply, and protected species (sharks, rays, marlin) must be released unharmed.

 

Is this experience focused on fishing, or is it more of a day out?

Both, depending on your group. Guests who want to fish can fish. Guests who’d rather snorkel or spend time on the beach can do that. The boat is private, the day is flexible, and the crew adapts to the needs of the group.

If no one in your group is interested in fishing at all, the day can be structured around the water, the beach, and the wildlife instead. Although note that, as with any excursion in the National Park, boats carry very specific licenses. For example, fishing boats are not licensed to take passengers on tours of uninhabited islands, nor to snorkeling sites or beaches beyond the boundaries of their operations and permits. Ultimately, the captain’s licence determines where the boat can go, and those boundaries are set by the National Park, and not by us.

 

What fish can you catch in the Galapagos?

Yellowfin tuna and palometa are the most commonly caught species.

 

Is there a limit to how many fish you can catch?

Yes. Under Vivencial Fishing regulations, guests may collectively keep up to 50lbs of catch for personal consumption on board. The crew cannot sell the catch, and guests are no longer allowed to take fish off the boat to consume elsewhere.

Protected species must be released.

 

What happens if we don’t catch anything?

While the majority of our guests do catch something, naturally this is not something we can guarantee. The day still includes a secluded beach, snorkeling, lunch on board, and time spent enjoying pockets of the archipelago that many visitors don’t get the opportunity to experience.

 

Is the experience suitable for young children?

Yes. The private charter means the pace is entirely dictated by whoever is on board. Many of the guests who’ve rated this as a trip highlight have been under ten years old.

 

Is seasickness a concern?

On the southern route, conditions can get a little choppier during the dry season (July–December). Guests who are sensitive to motion sickness should mention this when planning as there are practical steps the team can suggest, and the Deluxe option on the northern route offers calmer waters.

 

Is this included in my Safari or is it an extra?

The fishing experience is included in the Family Safari. It can be added to any of our other Safaris as an extra. Speak to your Safari Designer about which option best suits your group and budget.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve

The Expansion of the Galapagos Marine Reserve

Galapagos Wildlife: An Overview

Wildlife Seen on a Galapagos Safari

View All Our Safaris