- Last Updated: April 10, 2024
San Cristobal is one of the three main islands of the Galapagos and it has incredible snorkeling spots, with that in mind I’ve listed here the 11 best spots to go snorkeling in San Cristobal. Most of the places will give you so many incredible experiences that I guarantee you you won’t forget. Sometimes you might even spot hammerhead sharks and manta rays so do give it a try.
Apart from snorkeling in San Cristobal, this island has adventures for all tastes, here you can see all the most famous endemic animals of the Galapagos, explore the island on land and on water, learn about its history and people and also its coffee-making tradition, and if you’ve enough time it’s also possible to explore some of the other islands nearby.
I’ve personally snorkeled in at least half of these places and when I didn’t I could see the fish and sometimes turtles from above water. In any case, for the ones I did snorkel, I wrote an entire guide on how to get there and all the info that you need and I linked them together.
SNORKELING IN SAN CRISTOBAL
GENERAL INFO
San Cristobal, like all the other islands, is part of the Galapagos National Park, and therefore it has a number of things you should know:
- Most of the activities have to be done on a tour with a Naturalist guide.
- All the agencies have the same prices (although you can barter if you book more than one tour).
- Most beaches have opening and closing times (turtle nesting reasons).
- You should book your tour at least one day in advance (or you might risk not having a place on the best ones).
- Bring Seasickness Medication for the tours on the water.
- Always use strong sunscreen (Sun in the Equator line burns more).
- Have mosquito repellant with you, especially at sunset. There are horseflies in the Galapagos.
- You can’t fly a drone here unless you have a special permit from the National Park.
- You can’t rent a motorcycle or a car, everything has to be done by taxi, bus, boat, bicycle, or on foot.
- You can’t and shouldn’t touch the animals on the island.
SNORKELING IN SAN CRISTOBAL
BOOK YOUR TOURS HERE
These are tours I didn't do myself but have good reviews on
Viator and might save you some time while on the island.
1. PUERTO CHINO BEACH
Puerto Chino beach is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the island. There are almost no tourists here, you can snorkel, sunbathe, and even surf. If you’re lucky you might even find sea lions.
In order to visit it you must hire a taxi, for that reason, it’s usually included in a tour where the taxi takes you to multiple destinations. This tour is called “The Highlands Tour” or “Tour Parte Alta” and takes you to El Junco Crater Lake, The Giant Tortoise Reserve “La Galapaguera” and Puerto Chino beach.
View the full blog post here: HIGHLANDS TOUR IN SAN CRISTOBAL
Also, if you’re interested in beaches: BEST 5 BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL
2. MUELLE TIJERETAS DOCK
It is a very nice alternative place to swim and snorkel. There is a cave full of sea lions right on the right of the dock and you will probably find them also in the water or at the dock with you (as you can see in the photo). If you’re in the Interpretation Center, you either go right to the Cerro Tijeretas Hill or go left to Muelle Tijeretas Dock.
It’s free and it’s the perfect refreshment stop on your way to Cerro Tijeretas or Playa Baquerizo beach. I went here on my way back from Playa Baquerizo beach and also wrote an article about it.
View the full blog post here: CERRO TIJERETAS AND PLAYA BAQUERIZO HIKE
Also, if you’re interested in beaches: BEST 5 BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL
3. PLAYA BAQUERIZO BEACH
To reach Playa Baquerizo beach you need to hike there and it’s the only hike you can do on the island that is free and not part of a tour. You can actually continue further to another beach but I would say for a normal hiker this is enough, especially on a hot sunny day.
It’s a nice long white sandy beach with almost nobody since it’s a bit hard to reach it, and you can snorkel in the water. I saw turtles many fish and a white-tip reef shark. On the sand and in the water marine iguanas can also be found here.
View the full blog post here: CERRO TIJERETAS AND PLAYA BAQUERIZO HIKE
Also, if you’re interested in beaches: BEST 5 BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL
4. BAHIA ROSA BLANCA BEACH
ON THE 360º TOUR
This is without a doubt the most famous tour on the island. If you are an adventurous soul and you like the water this is the tour for you. Here you will literally go on a boat ride around the entire island.
The highlights are Bahia Rosa Blanca beach (on the photo underneath), a huge and gorgeous white sandy beach with turquoise water, snorkeling in Kicker Rock, birdwatching at Punta Pitt, inland exploration, and many other stops. It is definitely the most complete tour you can do for snorkeling in San Cristobal.
View the full blog post here: 360 TOUR IN SAN CRISTOBAL
Also, if you’re interested in beaches: BEST 5 BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL
Book your tour: Full Day Tour 360 San Cristobal – Best of the Island (great reviews)
5. LA LOBERIA BEACH
This was the first activity I did on the island, it’s a long free beach full of sea lions and marine iguanas. When I went into the water a baby sea lion started playing with me, we raced together and I saw some beautiful turtles swimming around. If your dream is to go snorkeling in San Cristobal, playing with sea lions while on the water is probably a nice introduction to it.
There is a National Park guard taking care of the beach and some minor facilities such as the guard’s tower where you can hide if it starts raining.
You need to take a taxi to reach it or rent a bicycle and cycle your way there. I did a whole post about it and added the numbers of some taxi drivers you can call to take you there.
View the full blog post here: LA LOBERIA BEACH IN SAN CRISTOBAL
Also, if you’re interested in beaches: BEST 5 BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL
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6. PUNTA CAROLA BEACH
This is for me the best beach in San Cristobal. It’s free, it’s long and beautiful, you can relax, there are not many people and its perfect location allows you to watch amazing sunsets from there.
To reach it you have to walk perhaps 15 mins from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno’s downtown. You can surf here, it’s actually one of the best places to do it on the island and you can also swim with sea lions and marine iguanas if you’re lucky.
View the full blog post here: PUNTA CAROLA BEACH IN SAN CRISTOBAL
Also, if you’re interested in beaches: BEST 5 BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL
7. PLAYA MANN BEACH
If you have a group of friends or you are with your family and don’t want to be just with nature, this is the place to come. There are kiosks where you can get some snacks and drinks, you can play music on the beach, watch the sunset and relax next to some sea lions.
This beach is literally 10 minutes away from downtown and it’s also on the way to Punta Carola beach, so if you find it too busy you have a close-by alternative.
View the full blog post here: PLAYA MANN BEACH IN SAN CRISTOBAL
Also, if you’re interested in beaches: BEST 5 BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL
8. KICKER ROCK
Diving in Kicker Rock is the most famous activity in the Galapagos for divers from all around the world. Here, if you’re lucky and you’ve good visibility you can find dozens of hammerhead sharks, eagle and manta rays, Galapagos sharks, turtles, everything literally.
If you’re not a diver, you can go for a cheaper price on the same boat as your friends and snorkel here. The snorkeling group on my tour actually saw more things than we did. So it’s a spectacular tour in both ways.
View the full blog post here: DIVING IN KICKER ROCK
9. ESPAÑOLA ISLAND
Española Island is home to many endemic species in the Galapagos. They only exist on this island. It’s a day tour and it’s the only big island (not counting Santa Cruz island) you can visit on a day trip from San Cristobal.
Here you can find a special marine iguana with green and red coloration, a waved albatross colony (it’s their only breeding site in the world), the Española mockingbird, the Española lava lizard, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and many other unique species. There is a part of the tour where you snorkel or dive in Gardner Islet and find many underwater wonders.
To book this tour: Check the local company Wreck Bay’s website, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:
10. LOBOS ISLAND & OCHOA BEACH
Lobos island tour is a mixed tour, both on water and on land.
You have a 1-hour stroll on the island where you can spot sea lions, frigate birds, and blue-footed boobies and also do some snorkeling and find rays and turtles. In the end, you will go to Playa Ochoa for some beach time.
I visited Lobos island on the way to Kicker Rock for my first dive in San Cristobal. Here is where you do the test dive to check your skills.
To book this tour: Check the local company Planet Ocean Galapagos website, or book it online on Viator here: Tour Lobos Island from San Cristobal
11. PUNTA PITT
If you’ve done the 360 Tour then you probably recognize this place. It’s where you do the birdwatching on that tour. It is the northeasternmost point of San Cristóbal and the turning point from the wild to the calm sea (protected by the island), it is therefore packed with marine life and birds and it’s an incredible last alternative to go snorkeling in San Cristobal.
On this tour, you have two dives or you can snorkel if you aren’t a certified diver. In the end, you go to Cerro Pitt hill for some birdwatching and inland exploring or just stay at the beach relaxing.
Check the Punta Pitt dive/snorkel trip on Wreck Bay’s website.
SNORKELING IN SAN CRISTOBAL
WHERE TO STAY
San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos has a range of accommodation options to choose from, and we’ve narrowed down the top three choices for you.
If you’re seeking a luxurious and modern lodging experience, Hotel Indigo in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the perfect option for you. For a private and romantic getaway, Villa Bonita Guest House offers a charming villa with a private pool and all modern amenities. And for budget-conscious travelers, Cactus Hostal is a great choice with its colorful rooms, socializing areas, and convenient services.
To learn more about these options and other accommodation choices, check out the full article:
ALL THE ARTICLES ABOUT THE GALAPAGOS
San Cristobal Island – The easternmost island of the Galapagos, the “Isla Bonita”
Santa Cruz Island – The island with the best tourism infrastructure.
Isabela Island – The most adventurous and less explored island of the main three.
