Pinzón Island, Galápagos: Snorkelling Day Tours from Santa Cruz

Short answer: Pinzón has no land visitor site, so tours stay on the water: day trips from Puerto Ayora spend 7 to 10 hours on snorkel stops with sea turtles and sea lions, from about $240 per person. On land, Pinzón's own giant tortoise is breeding in the wild again since rats were removed in 2012.

LocationCentre of the archipelago, west of Santa Cruz
FromSanta Cruz, 7 to 10 hours
LandingNone
TortoisesOwn species, over 800 young released since 1970

What you will see

The day is spent snorkelling around the coast. On land, out of reach, Pinzón has its own lava lizard and giant tortoise; black rats ate almost every egg and hatchling for most of the 20th century, until a park campaign removed them in December 2012. Two years later a survey found native-born hatchlings for the first time in over 100 years.

Green sea turtle

The main sight on the snorkel stops.

Galápagos sea lion

Often join snorkellers.

How to get there and what it costs

Pinzón tours leave from Puerto Ayora and go with a naturalist guide. Some combine Pinzón with other snorkel spots or a beach on Santa Cruz; the longer tours take most of the day.

The sea around Pinzón is deep and open: take a seasickness tablet before you board if you are prone to it.

Tours that go to Pinzón start from about $240 per person (2 listings compared below). The national park entrance fee is paid once, on arrival in the islands: entrance fee and entry rules.

Best time to visit Pinzón

Pinzón is good all year. The cool season, roughly June to October, brings the most active marine life; the warm season brings warmer water and calmer seas.