Embark on an unforgettable day trip to Española Island, one of the oldest and most spectacular islands in the Galápagos archipelago. Known for its dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife, Española offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for nature lovers, photographers, and adventurers.
Wildlife sightings include the waved albatross, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, tropic birds, Galapagos hawks, mockingbirds, tons of marine iguanas (including the “Christmas” variety), lava lizards, and more. Keep in mind the albatross are only present from April to December. During the navigation you may see whales or dolphins.
Española Tour Itinerary
There are two unique itineraries for this tour:
Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay
Punta Cevallos, Islote Tortuga and Playa Manzanillo
The Punta Suarez tour is the more adventurous option as the main activity is a 3km guided hike, some of which is quite challenging as the path traverses volcanic boulders. The total walking time is around 2 hours. There is no shade and you’ll need to carry plenty of drinking water. Your efforts will be rewarded with up-close encounters with many birds along with the beautiful scenery. Snorkeling takes place in Gardner Bay or along the coastal rockface, where you can see sea turtles, schools of fish, and playful sea lions. One boat offers the opportunity to dive at Gardner Bay instead of snorkel; you must have an Open Water PADI license with a minimum of 8 logged dives.
The Punta Cevallos tour is better for people with mobility issues as the walk to see the birds is on a level path (only one short stretch is along the rocky coastline which can be avoided if necessary) and the total duration is 30-40 minutes. You’ll also go for a walk on the beach at Playa Manzanillo and snorkel in the adjacent bay, with a second snorkeling opportunity at Islote Tortuga where you can see lots of giant starfish, plus sea turtles, schools of fish, sea lions, and hopefully stingrays and reef sharks.
Note that at certain times of year it is possible that the waves may be strong enough to prohibit disembarkation at Punta Cevallos. This disclaimer applies to all tours in Galapagos, meaning they operate in heavy rain or rough sea conditions but the National Park, port authority, and the boat captain make the final decision as to where it is safe to disembark on any given day.
Española Tour Times
The tour is offered weekly on select days depending on the itinerary, but departures are only confirmed when enough people have booked (usually a minimum of six).
This day trip is primarily offered in tourist-standard 12-passenger speedboats. There is also nicer yacht and a couple of catamarans that are permitted to operate tours to the island. Navigation takes around two hours each way from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal, depending on the sea conditions and the boat. The navigation time is longer on certain boats (up to three hours each way), so depending on the schedule and availability, you can decide if comfort is a priority over speed. The slower boats depart at 6:00am and return around 6:00pm, while the standard boats depart at 7:30am and return around 4:00pm. The ride can be rough; you’ll want to take seasickness preventatives before embarking and bring more for the return trip.
What’s Included?
This full day trip is led by an English- and Spanish-speaking naturalist guide and includes snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins), wetsuit, towel, lunch, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. For the 6:00am departure, breakfast is also included. Bring cash to tip the guide and crew.
Española Island has restricted visitor sites to preserve its fragile ecosystem. This tour has limited availability so advance booking is recommended. Contact us to reserve your spot today!
Check out our list of the best day trips in Galapagos and let us plan your island-hopping adventure.
