Day Trip To Bartolome Island From Puerto Ayora

Amazing experience. 100% recommend!

From the moment we booked to our last day, everything was perfect and we didn't have to worry about anything. A taxi to the ferry? No need to think about it: someone will come on time, drive you, and wait in line with you to make sure you're in the right line and that everything is taken care of. The guides are amazing! We fell in love with our guide Alejandro. He is wise, calm and caring. He made sure everything was perfect for us, even on days when he wasn't our guide. The hotels we booked were amazing and the service was perfect, especially Galapagos Suites on Santa Cruz. Byron is absolutely amazing. If I had a question, he responded within 10 minutes on WhatsApp. If you want a trip where you're guided by the best and don't need to worry about anything except showing up, book with this agency! Thank you for everything :)

What an unforgettable trip! Byron helped me book everything a day in advance and was incredibly fast to reply on WhatsApp. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it! The yacht was clean, the food was amazing, and there was tons of room to hang out inside and out during the cruise. We got to see Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies when the boat came close to Daphne Island on the 2-hour cruise to Bartolome. The hike up Bartolome is hot, but our guide took plenty of breaks and explained the history of the island. The views from the top feel like walking on Mars. On the way back to the boat, our Zodiac cruised by the shore to catch a rare glimpse of a Galapagos penguin. We finished with some amazing snorkeling (you can rent your wetsuit right on the boat if you don’t want to get sunburnt). It’s a long day, but absolutely do not miss Bartolome! It was our favorite

Pros: Great yacht, excellent food & servers, guide was very good. I enjoyed having snacks, coffee and tea available during the whole time. The view from the top of Bartolome was great - not overwhelming but very nice. If you like "upscale" trips then this is for you! Cons: The cost was quite high. If we booked through a local agent on Santa Cruz we would have saved over $200. The snorkeling was just okay. We saw more fish & more variety when touring the Santa Cruz Bay (only $67 per person). We spent A LOT of time on the bus and on the boat for only 4 stops ... only 1 was hiking & only 1 snorkel spot.

This was a great way to escape from the inhabited parts of the islands. I traveled solo to the Galápagos and had a great time on this excursion to Bartolemé.

Awesome everything! Thank you! Guide was super smart and knowledgeable. Food was very decent, and boat ride was not bad at all. We saw a penguin, an iguana, some sea lions and a whale from far away

Diego was an amazing and knowledgeable tour guide! The boat was very nice and the food on board was delicious! We had snacks throughout as well. Bartolomé Island is beautiful and this tour was a great way to see the island and marine life!

This is an awesome and extremely organized tour. Relaxing, informative and genuinely a good time. The guide and crew took great care of everyone in our group. Be warned, the stairs to the top of the volcano are rough but worth the view. Plus the hike down was easy and the rest of the afternoon was spent looking for penguins, snorkling and having a great lunch. By far my favorite tour we took for our trip!

Great your guide Joselyn, the ship crew was incredible, the food, outstanding, friendly and happy crew….. we saw iguanas sea lions penguins. I believe it was a wax, albatross, hammerhead, sharks, dolphin, swim with us under our boat, sea turtle, and 3 hawks that met us at the lighthouse at the top of our climb-super cool! Bonus was that we made a lot of new friends. Perfect day out

We had an absolutely wonderful time on the trip! We were blown away by the quality of the food and snacks provided, and the staff were super friendly and took great care of us. We loved the opportunities provided to see wildlife such as a small stop at Daphne Major.

Our day trip to Bartolome Island was fantastic! The entire crew of Sante Fe was wonderful - we actually journeyed with the same crew/boat for two of our trips and we couldn't have been happier with the hospitality and service of the crew. Our tour guide, Diego, was full of knowledge and was friendly and informative throughout the whole trip. We had wonderful weather and even saw penguins on our snorkeling adventure. I can't recommend this trip enough!

Amazing views, great snorchelink! Expensive but unique experience! The view looks really as on the pictures. During the snorchelink we have seen turtle, shark, pinquins, bobies etc...

For a nature lover this was a fantastic experience. The entire trip was well organised and executed as advertised. The yacht that took us to the island was very nice with plenty of room for 15 or so people on board. The scenery from the beginning of the trip all the way until we got back was incredible. The volume and diversity of wildlife was quite an experience. The privilege of swimming with penguins and dolphins swimming around the yacht was amazing. The raw beauty of a volcanic island really makes it feel like another world experience. The guide was excellent. Should also mention the chef on board the yacht prepared a delicious meal which included freshly caught fish. Overall money well spent.

Loved the day trip. Being able to swim with the penguins along the coast was a definite highlight of this trip. Had a lovely time with the rest of the group and Edwin was a great source of information and all around good fun. Other than an hour or so of rough sea the day just flew by. Would definitely recommend to anyone.

A very well organised trip. The boat is in great condition compared to the other boat tour I joined. The highlight for me is the trek to the peak of the Bartolome island, with the amazing view - which is pretty easy. The snorkel was amazing as well. I just wished we stayed a little longer in the beach before heading back to the boat for the lunch and then trip back to Santa Cruz island. The snacks were amazing too with fruits and unlimited refreshments.

This was a fantastic trip. The boat was very comfortable and nice. The crew were very attentive and the chef was fantastic! Our guide was interesting and easy to understand. The snorkeling was the best of our entire trip. I loved, loved, loved being able to swim with the penguins and there were so many colorful fish and playful sea lions.

We went on the day boat Galaxy, a great choice as all the staff were so helpful , pointing out landmarks on the way. It took two hours to reach the island and then there is a climb up to the viewpoint , fantastic views but not an easy climb. Snorkelling was good and all equipment is provided as was an excellent three course lunch a trip not to be missed

We always wanted to go to Bartolome and this day trip did not disappoint. The pickup was at our hotel even though Hotel Cucuve (which was awesome) was not listed as a pick up destination. There were about 20 people on the boat and there was plenty of space for everyone. On the trip over we saw rays, sharks, turtles, some one saw a whale shark. Once on the island, it is a step climb to take the iconic photo so be prepared for that! After the photos we took a smaller boat to shore to swim and snorkel and on the way we saw a penguin. Swimming on the beach was just as amazing as taking the photos. One the way back we had a very nice dinner. This was a truly remarkable experience and I would take this day trip again.

The ride to Bartolomé is very long. But the boat that we were on was very comfortable. There are cold and hot drinks along the way. And there’s a lot of space for everyone to move around. We spotted a ton of animals like dolphins and sea tortoises on the way there. At the island, we had a really good guide who explained to us the geological history of the island. We took a small side tour when our guide spotted a Galapagos penguin. We got pretty up close! Snorkeling with the guide was great. He was very good at spotting animals so we were able to see sharks and tortoises!

Byron booked the Altamar for us for a private tour to Santa Fe Island - we went yesterday. It was amazing. He was amazing. But the MOST amazing thing was that Byron hung with us after we booked in 2020, canceled three straight years due to COVID, then didn’t actually go until now. He booked, rebooked, changed dates, etc. at no extra cost and still nailed it. What else can anyone ask? HIGHLY recommend.

Beautiful unique island with crystal clear snorkelling. We even had a couple penguins swimming with us! The penguins are hit & miss tho. It's a small colony in Barolome and they could've been out fishing somewhere else. We just got lucky!! Most people go to Bartolome to climb the mountain trail.......all wooden walkway with stairs, to see the beautiful beaches and scenery below including the Iconic Rock. Postcard moment on top. The snorkelling was great because it's so clear with the rocks rather than sand. We saw some sea turtles and rays and lots of fish.........oh, and 2 or 3 penguins. It's a long day. Picked up at our hotel in Puerto Ayora at 6:30, took a bus to the channel at north of island and then hopped on boat for a long boat ride....bout 2.5 hrs there, slowing at a couple of islands to look at birds on cliffs and spotting jumping giant manta rays. Boat goes faster home...........cuz everyone's sleeping! They feed you a decent lunch and snacks on the boat. We got back to Puerto Ayora about 6 pm. You tip the boat crew when you get off and we gave some money to the bus driver and then our guide. The crew supplies flippers and fins and for $5 you can get a wet suit if desired. We went in January and most of us didn't need a wet suit. All 4 in our group were glad we went. A long boat ride but a nice boat and quite comfortable. Must nicer and more comfortable than the boats that taxi people to Isabela Island for a 2 hr thump thump thump show!! Oh.........best to prebook your tour ahead of time as it's the most popular tour out of Puerto Ayora and tours fill up fast. Costs can vary anywhere from $250 to $550. I have a connection to one local tour guide who is quite reasonable.

Great day!!! The guide and crew were awesome, the snorkeling was amazing and we saw so many animals, hiked up Bartalome, and enjoyed a delicious lunch on board. Perfect day!!!

The yacht was fantastic the food served on the yacht was five star excellent food and dessert the crew was magnificent Diego the guide is the most compassionate kind wonderful man that anyone could ever meet he is knowledgeable caring he is the greatest asset to any organization Jacqueline and I love Diego

Stunning! This was our first full day in the Galapagos Islands. We stayed on Puerto Ayora and this excursion very conveniently picked us up near the pier. The crew were great! Our main guide was Diego. He spent some time up front sharing safety information, which was appreciated. He was very informative throughout our hike to the peak of the island where we enjoyed a breath-taking view. We then went snorkeling and saw the most beautiful fish and starfish. But perhaps the most fun was swimming with several sea lions. Then, to top off an already fantastic day, we enjoyed a delicious freshly prepared grilled fish lunch. We were very impressed and it set a HIGH bar for all of our other excursions throughout the week. My only recommendation would be to take a dramamine. It's a fairly long and bumpy boat ride.

I had a great time in this trip. Alejandro was an informative guide and the captain and crew were very nice. The snorkeling was amazing - we saw a sea turtle and there were many penguins swimming around us. I also saw a ton of fish, starfish and a shark. There were blue footed boobies and sea lions also. The boat was comfortable and we had an enjoyable lunch. I had a hard time loading the checkout page and was able to organize everything through email - super helpful. I would totally recommend this trip with Santa Fe

Our guide was great. Very knowledgeable. The tour was well organized. The time on the island and snorkeling was perfect. They also feed us a great lunch.

We had wonderful time in visiting tour to the Bartolome. Two-hour boat trip to the Bartolome from Puerto Ayora is also enjoyable and relaxed time under the blue sky and on Navy sea. Impressed events were scenic view from the top of hill, and snorkeling with sea lion and penguins, who did hunting. I strongly recommend to visit to the Bartolome island with friendly guide through the Viator.

Byron will take care of you. the experience he will pick for you will never be disappointing. Safety for me is a big deal and I pick traveling experiences from reviews. This is the way to go. Beautiful excursions, perfect hotel, awesome staff. Trust these people. I love everything about it. Byron will seriously take care of you.

Having never been to the Galapagos before I did not know what to expect. Byron and Maria meet with us before any of our shceduled day trips. What a great way to start! They are both very personable, helpful, and knowledgeable. And the experiences we had on our selected day tours will be logged in my brain forever. From the great Santa Fe yacht to the scrumpdillyicious lunch it was all first class. To top it all off they also have GREAT guides full of personality, wisdom, truths, stories, enthusiasm, and manners. After the hike up to the amazing view of Pinnacle Rock we were off snorkeling. Diego (our guide) knew where to go to find the penguins and with a little luck we were swimming with them moments later. Byron has done a wonderful job creating an inviting informative website. Keep up the great work! We will be back to the Galapagos and we will be using Galapagos a la carte.

This was a perfect way to end our visit to the Galapagos via Sante Fe tours. The tour was a relaxing boat ride (not a speedboat) to Bartolome Island...complete with a good breakfast and lunch. Then about an hour on the island, then about another hour snorkeling. Even though it was a bit pricier than other day tours I'd totally recommend it.

The view at Bartolome is amazing. Our guide was also dedicated to getting us some penguin sightings, and we saw at least 7! The whole crew was amazing. Also, the lunch was like a 3 course meal - some type of fried fish with an appetizer and fruit dessert. I was expecting a granola bar, so the fact that we had a chef on board was way more than expected.The only negative was the boat ride back. This is something everyone needs to reflect on when deciding if this trip is for you. With the speed you travel back, you honestly feel like you're going to tip over. Looking back, we were probably perfectly safe, but just be aware, if you are deathly afraid of the ocean, you may have to skip Bartolome.The boat ride back aside - this trip, the view, the food, the penguins, seeing a sea turtle, snorkeling with amazing fish - it can't be beat. Bring some Dramamine for the boat ride, but don't skip this trip. Also, don't skip the snorkeling...I'm not a water fan, but the stuff you see in the water was really cool. If you don't feel comfortable swimming, just ask for a life jacket.

This is a great way to spend a day in Galapagos. There is a hike up to the viewpoint and a beautiful snorkel. You are in great hands with this crew and the food is good. The pre-trip coordination was also fantastic.

Working with Byron was great. I went with his company because of the many rave reviews of Santa Fe III (I believe his father owns the yacht). I was primarily interested in Bartolome, South Seymour, and Santa Fe Islands. All are worth it and should not be missed. Additionally, I went with the Highlands Tour which was the perfect introduction to Santa Cruz. Byron also provided escorted transport from and to the airport. This was a lifesaver because my luggage didn’t arrive with my flight. The guide communicated with the airline employees and arranged delivery to my hotel later that day. Without this service, I’m doubtful I would’ve seen my luggage ever again.

The Bartolome all day tour was selected because it worked well with our short Galapagos stay. Our group planned to snorkel and after reading earlier review on other tours we rented wet suits, as they appeared to not be included. Turned out this tour rented them out to passengers though. Because it was winter, while sunny, the wetsuits were needed to enjoy being in the water. We were picked up at our lodgings very early and it was a long bus ride from Puerto Ayora to the dock. The crew was friendly and the tour well organized. Breakfast, lunch and light snacks were included with mostly traditional Ecuadorean food. Bartolome Island was lovely and well worth seeing! The only challenge for us was the return boat trip back had heavy winds and was quite a “white knuckle” adventure for all the passengers. Glad we had purchased seasickness pills at the last minute, as the boat REALLY rocked and rolled! We stayed on the top deck and while we were really moving around, it was probably the smoothest part of the boat ride though. If you plan to snorkel, be adventurous and try swimming in the deeper water where there are many more fish and other creatures. My travel mates especially loved the special treat of swimming with a playful sea lion pup! While the tour description mentions penguins, we didn’t see any.

The trip to Bartolome was great; the boat was very comfortable. The crew prepared delicious food and provided snorkeling gear. Our two guides shared a lot of information during the ascent of the 365 steps and took breaks. The view from the top is gigantic. While snorkeling, we saw amazing colorful fish and a sea turtle. We also spotted a penguin and blue-footed boobies.

Very nice experience, amazing view. Great for taking great pictures. The climb was worth it!

Beautiful volcanic island to see attention over 300 steps to climb,and even in the morning it is hot,as far as snorkeling sea lion ,sharks and turtles and some penguins leaving from puerto Ayora about 2hours boat

It's the trip not to be missed, a day full of emotions, comfortable trip with dolphin, turtle, sea lions sighting, on the island breathtaking view, visit to spectacular beaches, snorkeling surrounded by fish of all kinds, penguins etc.