Short answer: Bartolomé has two sites: a 600 m trail and wooden staircase up to a 114 m summit over Pinnacle Rock, and a beach where you snorkel with fish, sea lions and sometimes Galápagos penguins. From a hotel on Santa Cruz you reach it on a full-day boat tour, from about $496 per person.
- LocationSullivan Bay, east of Santiago
- FromSanta Cruz, full-day boat tour
- Summit114 m, 600 m trail with stairs
- SwimmingNorth beach only
What you will see
The summit trail passes spatter cones, tuff cones and lava flows, and the top looks over Pinnacle Rock, the black lava fields of Sullivan Bay on Santiago, and Daphne Major and Minor. From the north beach you snorkel around Pinnacle Rock; a short trail leads to the south beach, where you can watch stingrays, spotted eagle rays and blacktip sharks but not swim.
Galápagos penguin
A small breeding colony lives in a cave behind Pinnacle Rock.
Galápagos sea lion
Swims with snorkellers off the north beach.
Green sea turtle
The north beach is one of the smaller turtle nesting beaches.
Whitetip reef shark
Close to shore at both beaches.
Red-lipped batfish
On the deeper sand of the dive site; a find for divers.
How to get there and what it costs
Visitors land across the small bay from Pinnacle Rock for the climb, and on the north beach next to the rock for swimming. Swimming and diving are not allowed in front of the south beach.
For land-based travellers the way in is a full-day boat tour from Santa Cruz with a naturalist guide. Book ahead: each boat takes a small group.
Tours that go to Bartolomé start from about $496 per person (1 listing compared below). The national park entrance fee is paid once, on arrival in the islands: entrance fee and entry rules.
Best time to visit Bartolomé
Bartolomé is good all year. Penguins are especially active around May and court in September, though sightings are never certain. Green sea turtles nest on the north beach from about January to March.
- May, Sep Galápagos penguins: active fishing (May), courtship peak (September)Bartolomé; Isabela and Fernandina west coast
Weather, sea temperature and wildlife for every month: month-by-month guide.
Tours that go to Bartolomé
Bartolome Day Tour for Penguin Snorkeling
Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
Compare every day trip on all islands: day-tour finder.
Nearby: more visitor sites from Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz island guide · All visitor sites · Itinerary planner · Ferry board
Questions about Bartolomé
Are there penguins at Bartolomé?
Yes. A small breeding colony lives in a cave behind Pinnacle Rock and penguins are often seen playing in the water off the north beach, but the colony is small, so a sighting is a matter of luck.
How hard is the Bartolomé climb?
The trail is about 600 m long and climbs to the 114 m summit, much of it on a wooden staircase the park built to stop erosion.
Can you visit Bartolomé on a day trip?
Yes, on a full-day boat tour from Santa Cruz with a naturalist guide. Tours start from about $496 per person.
Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Galápagos Conservancy. More numbers:facts and figures.
Updated 2026-11-07. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.