Bus Tours Santiago Island

Getting Around Santiago Island: Boats, Not Buses

Santiago Island, in the Galapagos, is uninhabited and has no roads, so no bus tours run there. It covers about 585 square kilometres of volcanic land with no town. Visitors travel by boat and walk guided trails.

How tours reach Santiago:

• Cruise route: a ship carries you between islands, and groups go ashore at Santiago in small boats.
• Day route: from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, travellers take a road transfer across the island for about 40 minutes to the Itabaca channel, then a boat for about 2 hours.

On Santiago itself:

• Puerto Egas: a coastal walk along black sand and lava where fur seals and sea lions rest.
• Sullivan Bay: a lava field walk with tree molds.
• Espumilla Beach: a reddish-gold beach with a short hike.

Tips for the journey:

• Ask whether the road transfer is included in the tour price. Local agencies quote about $250 per person for the full-day trip.
• Boats are usually back around 17:00 to 18:00, so confirm the time.
• Wear closed shoes and carry water.
• Expect wet or dry landings, depending on conditions.

Rules apply everywhere: a naturalist guide, a 2 m gap from wildlife and no flash.

Read more: day trips and sightseeing .