Safari Boats in the Galapagos Islands

In addition to private excursions on Santa Cruz Island, our land-based Safaris include day trips by boat to nearby uninhabited islands.

After breakfast, your private car and driver will take you to one of the two ports on Santa Cruz where you will board your boat. If you are visiting North Seymour, Bartolome or South Plaza, you will be taken to Itabaca harbour in the north. If visiting Santa Fe, you will be taken to Puerto Ayora in the south. Galapagos Safari Camp is equidistant from both ports so this transfer is never more than 30 minutes. For those visiting South Plaza, to note that the boat departs from Itabaca and returns to Puerto Ayora.

Learn more about the Islands We Visit

For our boat excursions to the uninhabited islands, we offer three levels of privacy.

• Shared boat with shared guide
• Shared boat with private guide
• Private boat with private guide

All three follow the same National Park trails, see the same wildlife, and are led by an official guide.

Learn more about our three tiers of Privacy

For shared boat trips, we work with the best local operators, selecting boats that have proven the most reliable over the years.

Capacity is capped at 16 passengers.

Guests of Galapagos Safari Camp have two options for the tour of the island itself:

1. Shared boat and shared guide: taking a tour of the uninhabited island alongside the other passengers, and with a shared guide.
2. Shared boat and private guide: Guests of Galapagos Safari Camp may bring their own guide for a private tour of the island, allowing for a more consistent guided experience across land and sea. We put real thought into this pairing. Some guides are especially skilled with young children, others with large, multi-generational groups, so your Safari Designer selects the right match once they understand your needs and interests. To note that all passengers must embark and disembark the boat at the same time. Learn more about Our Naturalist Guides.

Note: These boats aren’t exclusive to guests of Galapagos Safari Camp, so you may share the boat with travelers from other properties on Santa Cruz.

 

Shared Boats We Use

These are three of the boats we use most often. Which one you’re on depends on your chosen island, boat availability, flexibility of dates, and budget.

 

Boat 1

 

Boat 2

 

Boat 3

For a private boat trip to the uninhabited islands, we charter boats such as the ones pictured below, which comfortably fit between 8 to 10 people.

While a fully private charter is entirely your own, it’s worth noting that departure times from the port are set by the National Park, as are the time slots for the tour of uninhabited island itself. An early return concludes the day for everyone.

The timetable is set well in advance, and while private boats are allowed to return to port earlier than scheduled, they are not able to delay their departure from the port.

 

Private Boats We Use

• Due to the strict rules of the National Park, everyone gets the same tour of the island following marked trails, regardless of the boat they arrive on and/or level of privacy chosen.
• Visitors must be accompanied by an official guide at all times in the National Park.
• As no food is permitted on the uninhabited islands, all meals are served onboard the boat. Lunch typically includes rice, fish and vegetables, and is served either buffet-style or at the table, depending on the boat. While the meals may not match the cuisine of Galapagos Safari Camp, they do provide a hearty option to keep you energized for your day of adventure. If you have particular dietary needs, we can prepare a packed lunch for you, providing these requirements are requested at the time of booking.

Our Safaris can also include an artisanal fishing experience. This is a day at sea with local fisherman on a chartered boat.

The excursion also includes a guided snorkeling trip, lunch and a trip to a secluded beach on Santa Cruz.

To note, these boats are not licenced to visit the uninhabited islands.

Learn more about our Artisanal Fishing Experience

 

Fishing Boats We Use

 

What is the capacity of the boats we use?

Our shared boats carry a maximum of 16 passengers. Private charters are smaller and more intimate, comfortably fitting between 8 and 10 people.

 

How long are the navigations?

As a guide, each way takes approximately:

• North Seymour Island: 40–60 minutes
• South Plaza Island: 1 hour
• Santa Fe Island: 1.5 hours
• Bartolomé Island: 2 hours

 

Which islands can we visit?

The uninhabited islands we visit are North Seymour, Bartolome, South Plaza, Santa Fe.

Our boats visit one island per day.

The inhabited island of Isabela can also be added to a Safari, but we recommend reaching it by air rather than by boat.

Your Safari Designer will discuss island and boat options with you as part of planning your Safari, with the exact islands and boats confirmed at the time of booking.

 

Can we choose the island we want to visit?

It depends on how flexible your dates are. Boats to each island depart on set days of the week, and availability varies. Your Safari Designer will talk through the options for your dates and build the itinerary around your preferences and availability.

 

What animals will we see?

Our boat excursions include a tour of the island, together with a guided snorkeling tour in the marine reserve.

Animals seen both above and below the water include many of the Galapagos icons.

For the full range of species you might encounter, see Wildlife Seen on Our Safaris, or visit our guides for each uninhabited island: North Seymour, Bartolome, South Plaza, Santa Fe.

 

Which island is best for wildlife?

Each island offers something a little different. For example, the islands are home to, but not limited to:

• North Seymour: birdlife (blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, gulls), sea lions, land iguanas
• Bartolomé: Galápagos penguins, lava lizards
• Santa Fe: land iguanas, sea lions, Galápagos hawks, coastal birds
• South Plaza: land iguanas, sea lions, coastal birds

Your Safari Designer can help shape your itinerary around the species and encounters that matter most to you.

 

How difficult are the walking tours of each island?

They vary by island. Bartolomé is the most demanding, with a 600-meter climb up wooden stairways with no shade along the route, though the view from the top is one of the most iconic in the Galápagos.

Santa Fe has a wet landing (expect your feet to get wet) followed by a gentler inland trail.

North Seymour and South Plaza are among the easiest walking sites in the archipelago, with flat, short circuits well suited to most fitness levels.

Full details are on each island’s page: North Seymour, Bartolome, South Plaza, Santa Fe.