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Sea Lion Yacht Experience: Bartolome Island

This tour is offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

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Visiting the Galapagos is, without a doubt, an experience that’s unlike anything else. Whether it’s aboard an Expedition Vessel or from a hotel on one of the inhabited islands, there’s a number of ways visitors can take advantage of all the exploration options that are available in the archipelago. If you hope to visit some of the most remote and faraway islands, then an Expedition Vessel is probably your best choice.

However, if you’re looking to manage your own time and schedule on the islands, then an Expedition Hotel is the best option for you! Tip: If you have more time in the archipelago, a combination of both an Expedition Vessel and Hotel is a great way to go! If you’re looking to stay on an island, then be sure to consider the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel on Santa Cruz Island and create your own experience in the Galapagos!

At our Expedition Hotel, you’ll be able to organize your time in the Galapagos as you see fit! Choose from ticking off the majority of the most iconic species that make up our BIG15 list, enjoying a fascinating journey aboard our Sea Lion Yacht, or simply opting for one of our bundled Galapagos packages that we offer and let us take care of everything!

In the meantime, we invite you read on to find out what our Day Tour to Bartolome Island aboard our Sea Lion Yacht is like! Without a doubt, Bartolome is one of the most enigmatic and gorgeous islands to visit in the entire archipelago!

Bartolome Island: An out-of-this-world experience!

Time to experience a new adventure at the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel! Rise and shine and start your day with a delicious buffet breakfast that will be served at 6:15 a.m. over at our restaurant. After that, we’ll head out from the hotel at around 7:00 a.m. to go to Puerto Ayora. Tip: Remember that, before departing from the hotel, you can ask for seasickness pills if need be.

After a short walk from the hotel, we’ll hop aboard the Finch Bay’s own water taxi to cross the small channel and disembark at the Puerto Ayora pier. In Puerto Ayora, at approximately 7:30 a.m., we’ll board the bus that will take us over to the Itabaca Channel, located on the northern end of Santa Cruz Island. The journey there lasts around 45 minutes, so relax and enjoy the ride and views as we zip past dense scalesia forests and rich farmlands that are found up in the highlands.

Highlands in Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos
Highlands of Santa Cruz island in Galapagos

Once we arrive at the Itabaca Channel, we’ll board a panga (dinghy) that will take us to the Sea Lion Yacht. At approximately 8:30 a.m. is when we’ll set sail to Bartolome Island! During the following two-hour journey to Bartolome, you’ll get to relax under the sun or admire the views and some of the marine life that swims along with us. Keep an eye out! Depending on the time of year, it’s possible that dolphins might swim alongside our yacht on the way there!

 

Bartolome is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive visitor sites in all of Galapagos. Its geography never fails to captivate the imagination of adventurers! This volcanic island has a length of approximately 4.6 square miles (1.2 square kilometers) and an elevation of 374 feet (114 meters). Walking along Bartolome Island will offer us an experience that’s simply out-of-this-world, thanks in large part to the wide gamut of colors that cover its terrain: vivid reds, oranges, greens, and blacks all blend together to create a mesmerizing landscape that’s fit for a postcard. The island’s name comes from Sir Bartholomew James Sullivan, a friend of Charles Darwin and Lieutenant aboard the HMS Beagle – the famous vessel that sailed through Galapagos waters back in 1835.

View from the highest point of Bartolome Island.
Enjoy a breathtaking view from the highest point of Bartolome Island!

Once we’ve arrived at the island, we’ll hop aboard the Sea Lion’s panga (dinghy) and head over to the shores of Bartolome to perform a Dry Landing at the base of a wooden walkway. It is here that we’ll begin our walk up the walkway and steps, passing along lookout points along the way that will allow us to soak in the surrounding scenery and vegetation that’s found on the island. Finally, once we reach the top of the stairs, we’ll reach the final viewpoint that offers one of the most jaw-dropping panoramic views in the entire archipelago.

After that, we’ll head back down the same walkway and steps to board our panga (dinghy) once again at approximately 12:15 p.m. This panga will take us on a nice and refreshing coastal exploration that will last around 30 minutes. Following this bit of coastal exploration, we’ll arrive at Sullivan Bay and disembark (Dry Landing) to explore this impressive lava field on foot.

Sullivan Bay at Santiago Island in Galapagos
Explore the dramatic geography of the archipelago!

After that, we’ll head back to the Sea Lion for a brief pit stop that will allow us to leave the majority of our belongings and change into our swimsuits. Once we’re ready, we’ll head out (approximately 1:20 p.m.) to explore one of the most iconic landmarks in all of Galapagos: the colossal Pinnacle Rock. It is here that we’ll have the chance to enjoy a close encounter with numerous different aquatic creatures in the archipelago as we go snorkeling. Colorful schools of fish, sea lions, and even whitetip reef sharks and Galapagos penguins can be occasionally spotted here!

At approximately 2:15 p.m. we’ll head back to the Sea Lion Yacht for lunch, at which point you’ll get to sit back, relax and enjoy the food and impressive views of Bartolome Island from the comfort of our lovely yacht. Following that, we’ll set sail back to Santa Cruz Island at approximately 3 p.m.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this wonderful Day Tour!

Keep in mind: Galapagos Day Tours are subject to change due to weather conditions, logistical reasons, guests’ safety and/or Galapagos National Park Regulations.

Ready to stay at the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel and experience everything it has to offer? Get in touch with one of our Destination Experts, today!

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