Is Bartolome Island Worth It? An honest day tour review
Bartolome Island, also known as Isla Bartolomé, is home to the most iconic view of the Galapagos Islands, featuring a stunning volcanic landscape that contrasts with beautiful blue waters.
Visiting the island during a day tour comes with a high price tag of at least USD 200, and many wonder, is Bartolome Island worth it?
For me, the answer is YES! I spent two weeks traveling the Galapagos, and Bartolome Island was one of the best day tours of the whole trip!
In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about this stunning island, along with all the details and insider tips from my Bartolome Island tour experience.
TL;DR? Here are the highlights of the review:
🙋🏻♀️ Is the Bartolome Island Tour worth it? Yes, very much yes!
💵 How much is the tour? Between $200 and $350 depending on the type of boat, booking method, and time of booking
📅 Should I book the tour in advance? Yes, as it typically sells out at least one week in advance!
✅ Where to book the tour? I recommend booking this well-reviewed tour on Viator
What is Bartolome Island known for?
First and foremost, Bartolome Island is known for its stunning volcanic landscape that features Pinnacle Rock, a recognizable giant pointy rock that comes up from the ocean.
The view from the top of Bartolome Island is the most photographed spot in the archipelago, and is a major postcard of the Galapagos!
The island is also home to lots of wildlife, with some of them being endemic to the Galapagos, such as Galapagos Penguins and the Galapagos Hawk.
Where is Bartolome Island?
Bartolome Island is located in the Galapagos Archipelago by the east coast of Santiago Island and north of Santa Cruz.
Overview Bartolome Island Day Tour from Santa Cruz
The Bartolome Island day tour is the most affordable way to explore the island! It is the most famous tour in the Galapagos and is definitely an experience worth having.
What is included in the Bartolome Island Day Tour?
The Bartolome Island Day tour is a full-day tour that includes three main activities:
A short hike at Bartolome Island (0.9 miles or 1.5km) that leads to the Island’s famous viewpoint
Wildlife watching in a 15-minute zodiac ride around Bartolome Island. You can expect to see Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and much more!
Snorkeling and beach time near Bartolome Island (different spots are assigned daily to each tour by the National Park)
I shopped for the Bartolome Island Tour in many agencies across Santa Cruz, and all of them offered the same packages, which also included breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack.
Water, juice, and tea are typically included on tours, and soft drinks and alcohol can be purchased on board.
How much is the Bartolome Island Day Tour?
The price of the tour varies from USD 190 to 350+ depending on three factors:
- Booking method: Typically, booking in person is much cheaper than booking online. Because the Bartolome Island tour is often fully booked, it is often worth it to pay the premium to book it way in advance!
- Type of boat: Many different types of boats head to Bartolome Island, and the tour price tag is highly dependent on what type you choose.
- Time of booking: During the low season, the Bartolome Island day trip is not always fully booked, so you can a last-minute deal when booking a day before the tour.
For reference, I paid USD 220 for a sailboat Bartolome Island tour, which I booked in person about 1 week in advance.
The night before the tour, my friend tried to join me on the sailboat, but it was already fully booked. She ended up getting a last-minute deal of USD 200 for a small yacht.
Luxury boats, had a much higher price tag, costing 350$-450$ for the day tour.
What is the best Bartolomé Island Day Tour? Yacht vs. Sailboat
The boats that head to Bartolome Island vary greatly, but the two main groups are yachts and sailboats. Yachts are the most common choice and can be easily booked online.
I love sailing, so I waited until I got to the Galapagos to book the sailboat option! After boarding the sailboat, I was bummed to learn that we would rely on the motors instead because “sailing takes too much time”.
Even though I was bummed to not really sail, I was still happy to be on the sailboat. The sailboats are typically very large, and the few guests can comfortably spread around the boat!
In short, here is my honest comparison between yachts and sailboats:
| Yacht | Sailboat | |
| Comfort | ✅ The large size of the boat allows guests to comfortably spread | |
| Timing | ✅ The yacht moves faster, so the pickup time is around 7 AM, which is much more reasonable than the sailboat meeting time of 5:30 AM! | |
| Pricing | ✅ Pricing for an average yacht is similar to that of a Sailboat though fancier yachts come with much higher price tags | ✅ |
| Availability | ✅ Yachts represent the vast majority of tours and are much easier to book | |
| Best for | ✅ Party lovers who go to bed late and dread a 5:30 AM meeting time | ✅ Families ✅ People who struggle with seasickness |
Should I prebook my Bartolomé Island Tour?
Yes! Batolomé Island is an incredibly popular tour that is often fully booked. The Galapagos National Park limits the number of visitors on the island each day and a seat on tours can be very competitive, especially during the summer months.
I was in the Galapagos off-season (November) and still came across multiple sold-out Bartolomé Island tours when trying to book mine. Even when booking a week in advance, there was only one seat available on the sailboat!
If you are traveling with family or in a large group, make sure to book your tour well in advance!
My honest experience going on the Bartolomé Island day tour
Bartolomé Island Day Tour Schedule
Early morning pickup at the Turtle Monument & van ride to the pier
The boat to Bartolome Island takes off from a port near Baltra Island, so the whole group meets by the Turtle Monument in Puerto Ayora to board a van to the pier. The van ride takes about 45 minutes, and I found it a good time to catch up on sleep!
The pickup times depend on the tour and the type of boat you are riding! For my sailboat, the meeting time was 5:30 AM and 7:00 AM for my friend on the yacht.
Boarding the sailboat
At the pier, the sailboat’s zodiac (small boat) picked up the 16 tourists and our naturalist guide to board the sailboat and start heading to the amazing Bartolomé Island!
The sailboat was very large and comfortable!
Breakfast on board
The boat had a full crew, including a chef who cooked breakfast. We were served yogurt, scrambled eggs, fruit, and more!
Navigating to Bartolome
The sea conditions were mostly calm on the way to Bartolome Islands, and the ride lasted about two hours.
We were very lucky to come across a pod of dolphins, who jumped around the front of our boat for a few minutes!
Disembark and hike at Bartolomé Island
After a few hours of riding the boat, we finally got to Bartolomé Island, and from the water we could already see how beautiful and unique the island is. We could also spot some wildlife, such as sea turtles, blue-footed boobies, crabs, and sea lions.
As we disembarked, we started a short hike up to the iconic viewpoint, which is only 0.9 miles long (1.5 km). The hike is through a beautifully maintained wooden trail, that features many steps and smaller viewpoints along the way to rest and enjoy the scenery.
As we walk up, the naturalist guide points out some of the plants and birds present on the island.
During the hike, keep an eye out for the Galapagos hawk, an endemic species and the apex predator of the Galapagos. This incredible bird is not present on all islands and sightings in Bartolome Island are frequent!
The top viewpoint did not disappoint! It was fantastic, and I got to enjoy it for about 15 minutes.
A plus was that the viewpoint was not overly crowded because the Galapagos National Park does such an amazing job of controlling the number of tourists!
After seeing the iconic landscape with my own eyes, I felt like my trip to the Galapagos was finally complete!
Important to note: Despite being steep, the hike up Bartolomé Island was relatively easy, and even the elderly did not struggle much. The many viewpoints were great for recharging, and if anyone felt exhausted they could simply return to the pier and wait there for the group!
Zodiac ride around Bartolome Island to watch wildlife
Before getting back to the sailboat, the captain takes us on a quick 15-minute zodiac ride around the island to spot some wildlife. During my ride, I was particularly mesmerized to see sea lions laying inside holes on the Pinnacle Rock. I wonder how they even got up there!
We also spotted blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and the big stars: Galapagos penguins.
During my tour, we spotted around 5 penguins because it was not the peak season. If visiting Bartolome Island during select months, you might spot hundreds of Galapagos penguins – an endemic and endangered species!
Snorkeling near Bartolomé Island & beach time
After the short zodiac tour around the island, we briefly returned to the boat to put on snorkeling gear and head to the snorkeling spot and the beach.
There are many snorkeling spots (and beaches) around and near Bartolome, and that day my group was assigned an amazing spot in Santiago Island.
Important to note: Many people chose to skip snorkeling and were dropped directly at the beach to relax and enjoy the scenery. This tour is worth it even if you do not enjoy snorkeling!
The snorkeling was one of the best I’ve done in the Galapagos, with incredible visibility, varying depths, and wildlife.
Pro tip: If you like snorkeling and marine wildlife, check out the Los Tuneles tour! This tour is not as well-known as Bartolome Island, but it has the most diverse wildlife I saw in all of the Galapagos.
The cherry on top was that the snorkeling was self-guided, so I got to do it all by myself! Not having to worry about my pace and enjoying the wildlife by myself was absolutely incredible.
I came across lots of schools of fish, a white-tip shark, and a sea lion holding a giant eel in its mouth!
After I finished snorkeling, I walked around the beach, which featured incredible lava formations (home to many red crabs), and enjoyed an amazing view of Bartolome Island.
Getting back to the boat, we were provided with towels and a quick freshwater wash!
Lunch on board
The chef cooked us a nice meal on board and was very accommodating to those with dietary restrictions. As someone with ARFID, I very much appreciated the chef’s kindness and understanding!
Afternoon snacks and goodbye sparkling wine
The ride back to Santa Cruz was quite long, and I laid down on the deck and slept for most of it!
On the way back, the crew served us some afternoon snacks and surprised us with a sparkling wine toast to celebrate the amazing day!
Return to Puerto Ayora
Upon disembarking in Santa Cruz, we boarded a van and had a 45-minute drive back to the Turtle Monument in Puerto Ayora.
This time I was awake during the van ride and was able to see many giant turtles as we drove by in the highlands of Santa Cruz.
What to pack for the Bartolomé Island tour
- A hat: I forgot to bring mine and felt my scalp burn at the beginning of the tour! Luckily, my guide noticed my mistake and lent me a hat!
- Sunscreen: Lots of it! The sun in the Galapagos is unforgiving, and you might want to sit on the boat’s deck to enjoy the view.
- UV-Protective clothing: Sunscreen is amazing, but reapplying it on my whole body every two hours is quite hard. UV-protective clothing is how I cheat the system and get to be just a bit lazier.
- Motion sickness medicine: Water conditions can be quite rough, so it is always good to have something to resort to in case of sea sickness.
- Underwater camera equipment: My action camera was essential in capturing the most magical moments underwater, and I highly recommend bringing one to your trip to the Galapagos! If your budget does not allow for an action camera just yet, a $8 waterproof phone case will also do the job!
- Snorkeling mask: The boat provides snorkeling equipment, but I find it so much more comfortable (and sanitary) to wear my own! I highly recommend bringing your own snorkeling mask to the Galapagos, as you’re likely to use it daily.
- Wetsuit (if you get cold easily): The boat does not provide wetsuits, but if you want extra warmth during the snorkeling activity, you can rent one in most tour agencies across Puerto Ayora (there is at least one in every corner).
There is no need to pack water, snacks, fins, and towels, as those are typically available on the boat!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Bartolomé Island
How do I get to Bartolome Island?
Bartolome Island can be accessed by joining a day tour from Santa Cruz, like the one we talk about in this post, or by joining a Galapagos cruise, which typically comes with a much higher price tag.
Important to note: In theory, people sailing through the Galapagos could also stop by the island, but there are so many rules and regulations to explore the area that it is best to just go on a guided tour
Is Bartolome Island inhabited?
Yes, no one lives in Bartolome Island! The island is quite small and heavily protected, so there is no local community and no way to stay there overnight.
What is the pointy rock in the Galapagos?
The pointy rock formation in the Galapagos is called “Pinnacle Rock” and is located on Bartolome Island. Many say that the pointy rock formation was formed naturally, but others, including my naturalist guide, believe that it was shaped by the US Military.
Is the Bartolomé Island hike hard?
The Bartolome Island Hike is quite short (0.9 miles or 1.5 km) and easy. The trail is well-maintained and easy to walk on. Also, multiple small viewpoints along the way are perfect little stops to rest and quickly recharge.
Also, if anyone feels exhausted during the hike, they can simply return to the pier and wait for the group there. No need to complete the hike if you are not feeling well!
What animals are on Bartolomé Island?
Bartolome is home to a wide range of animals, but the main ones that are regularly seen are the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawk, sea turtles, sea lions, sally lightfoot crabs, blue-footed boobies, and pelicans.
Is it cheaper to book the Bartolome Island Tour in person?
It can be cheaper to book the Bartolome Island tour in person, but if your trip is short it might be best to simply book online well in advance.
The Bartolome Island tour is a top choice for tourists, but not everyone gets the chance to experience it. The Galapagos National Park limits the number of visitors, and during peak seasons, tours often sell out at least a week in advance.
If you are heading to the Galapagos for a long time (2+ weeks), it might be fine to risk it and book it as soon as you arrive on the islands. If your trip is shorter, I highly recommend booking online in advance to guarantee your spot on this amazing tour.
How long is the Bartolomé Island day tour?
The Bartolomé Island day tour from Santa Cruz lasts 10 to 12 hours depending on what boat you take. It truly is a full-day tour, so come rested!
The Wrapup: Is Bartolome Island worth it?
So, is Bartolome Island worth it? Absolutely!
From the breathtaking hike to the iconic viewpoint, the chance to spot unique wildlife like Galapagos penguins and hawks, and the unforgettable snorkeling experience, this day tour is a classic gem of the Galapagos.
Sure, it comes with a higher price tag, but the experiences and views are very much worth it.
If you’re craving breathtaking views, unique wildlife, and adventure all-in-one tour, Bartolome Island is the perfect choice.
