Planning Activities on Santiago Island, Galapagos
Isla Santiago, known in English as James Island and in Spanish as San Salvador, is a volcanic island in the Galapagos, Ecuador. Nobody lives there, and visitors have no road, shop or lodging to use. You see it from the water: a cruise ship or a day boat drops a small group ashore, and a park naturalist leads every step. Plan your activities around what those landings offer.
At a glance
| Activity | Where | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Lava walk | Sullivan Bay | Young lava flow, ropey surface, tree molds, no shade |
| Wildlife coast walk | Puerto Egas, James Bay | Fur seals, sea lions, black-sand beach |
| Beach stop and hike | Espumilla Beach | Reddish-gold sand, wet landing, nesting green turtles |
| Snorkeling | Puerto Egas, Sullivan Bay, Espumilla | Guided, cool water June to November |
| Diving | Cousins Rock | Sharks and rays seen, moderate currents |
| Panga ride | Buccaneer Cove | Eroded cliffs and sea stacks seen from the water |
The lava at Sullivan Bay
The flow cooled in the late 19th century, usually dated to 1897. The trail is about 1.5 km, and the first tree molds appear around 150 m in. Walk slowly: the crust is uneven, and the sun is strong with nothing to shade you.
Wildlife at Puerto Egas
The shore here is a lava shelf where Galapagos fur seals and young sea lions rest side by side. A coastal walk of about 2 km is typical, and some trips add a swim or snorkel from the beach. Galapagos hawks can be seen here.
In the water
Snorkeling is part of some tours, always with the guide. A wetsuit is worth having because the water is cool from June to November. Divers go to Cousins Rock, a rock about 10 m high to the north-east of Santiago, which is a site for intermediate divers.
Land iguanas
In January 2019, 1,436 land iguanas were released onto Santiago, brought from North Seymour after roughly 180 years of absence from the island. They are a conservation story rather than a sure sighting, so ask your guide what to expect.
Costs and rules
- Foreign visitors aged 12 and over pay a $200 park fee, and under 12s pay $100. Under 2s are exempt.
- The Transit Control Card is $20 per person.
- Keep 2 m away from animals and skip the flash. No drones.
- Closed shoes are needed on the lava.
The Galapagos government fee page gives every fee category. For flights through Guayaquil, check the UK FCDO regional advice , which says to confirm with your airline that you remain airside.
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