Free snorkeling & hiking in San Cristobal’s Interpretation Center
The Galapagos Islands can be an expensive destination, but the San Cristobal Interpretation Center (AKA Centro de Interpretacion Ambiental Gianni Arismendy) is a great example of the amazing free activities available in the archipelago.
In this giant protected area just a quick walk away from downtown San Cristobal, you’ll find a museum, a beach, a fantastic snorkeling spot, and moderately challenging hiking trails.
I spent a whole day exploring the space and fell in love with it!
General Visiting Information For The Centro de Interpretacion Ambiental Gianni Arismendy
⏰ Visiting hours: 8 AM to 6 PM
💸 Entrance Fee: Free!
🥾 Trail length: 2 hours/2.8 km roundtrip (not including the trail to Playa Baquerizo). There is a lot to do in this space, so I’d plan to spend about 5 hours there!
What to do in the Interpretation Center?
The interpretation center is huge and offers opportunities to snorkel, hike, bird watch, and enjoy two different beaches.
Along the trails in the interpretation center, there are four activities worth doing:

1. Learn about the history of the Galapagos Islands in a museum-like exhibit
By the entrance to the Interpretation Center, you’ll find an amazing exhibit talking about the history of the Galapagos Islands along with plans for the future, all of which I found to be incredibly interesting!
In fact, I learned way more about Darwin’s journey in the Galapagos in this free exhibit than in the Charles Darwin Research Center!

2. Snorkel at the stunning Enseñada de Cerro Tijeretas
Enseñada de Cerro Tijeretas (AKA Frigatebird Hill Bay) was one of the best snorkeling spots I visited in the Galapagos. The waters were clear, deep, had easy access, and wildlife was abundant!

3. Hike up Cerro Tijeretas for a stunning view and a chance to spot a frigatebird
The frigatebird is a Galapagos star and I almost spent 200$ going to the North Seymour Island Tour for a chance to spot them.
That was before I found out that they’re often spotted for free in the Interpretation Center! I headed to Cerro Tijeretas (AKA Frigatebird Hill) and was able to spot frigatebirds flying overhead.
Even if you’re not into birdwatching, just hiking up for the view on the top is well worth it!

4. Enjoy the easily accessible Punta Carola Beach or hike to Barquerizo Beach
The beaches near the Interpretation Center—Punta Carola Beach and Barquerizo Beach—aren’t as stunning as the iconic views you’d see in top Galapagos tours like the Bartolome Island Tour. They also don’t stand out much compared to more accessible beaches in San Cristobal, like Playa Mann.
However, the beaches in the Interpretation Center have one plus that makes the visit well worth it: they are not crowded! During my visit, I had this white sand beach to myself.

5 Pro Tips For Exploring the Interpretation Center
The San Cristóbal Gianni Arismendy Environmental Interpretation Center is an accessible place to visit, but there are a few things to keep in mind before you go.
Here are my 5 tips for a comfortable and enjoyable visit to the center:
1. Bring a large water bottle and snacks: While there are water fountains at the entrance, you won’t find any shops selling water or food along the trail. A round trip to Cerro Tijeretas takes at least 2 hours, but if you stop to snorkel, birdwatch, or relax at the beach, it can easily stretch to 5 hours or more. Be sure to plan accordingly!
2. Wear UV clothing and sunscreen: The Galapagos sun is incredibly intense due to its location on the equator. Combine that with the short vegetation offering little shade, and you’ve got a recipe for sunburn. At a minimum, wear a UV-rated shirt, a good hat, and sunscreen for your visit to the Interpretation Center.
3. Wear proper footwear: The trails, especially the one leading to Playa Baquerizo, are long and require sturdy shoes. I made the mistake of wearing flip-flops and regretted it—stick to sneakers or hiking shoes for comfort.
4. Bring snorkeling gear: The snorkeling at Enseñada de Cerro Tijeretas is fantastic, but there are no rental shops in the area. Don’t forget to pack your snorkel and towel for the best experience.
5. Bring binoculars: Birdwatching at Cerro Tijeretas is far more enjoyable with a good pair of binoculars. I always carry a budget-friendly $20 pair on my trips, and they make all the difference.
My experience exploring the Interpretation Center
I walked to the Interpretation Center from downtown Puerto Baquerizo, and it only took about 20 minutes.
Getting there, I checked in at the entrance and was able to enter for free and explore the space independently.


Visiting the interpretation rooms
Just by the entrance, was the awesome exhibit that walked me through the geography and history of the Galapagos. Despite being inhabited for long periods of time, the Galapagos still has a rich history featuring pirates, slavery, science, and colonization.
All the text is available in both English and Spanish, and I recommend setting aside at least 1 hour to fully explore the exhibit and read the informative displays.
It was upsetting to see most tourists skipping this space, as it was by far the most informative place I came across in all of the Galapagos!


Walking through the dry forest
The trail heading to both Punta Carola Beach and Cerro Tijeretas goes through a beautiful dry forest. The trail is in fantastic condition and has signage throughout.


Important to note: Although many sections of the trail are in amazing condition, it is not fully wheelchair accessible! There are many steps throughout the trail, especially in the Cerro Tijeretas area.
Throughout the walk, I spotted many cactuses, Galapagos cotton, flowers, and local birds!


Snorkeling in Enseñada de Cerro Tijeretas

Good snorkeling in the Galapagos can be very expensive, and it is mostly done on tours like the Los Tuneles Tour in Isabela, so I was excited to independently walk into a fantastic snorkeling spot for free!
In Enseñada de Cerro Tijeretas, I found waters with amazing visibility, lots of wildlife, and enough depth to play with free diving. Although I visited in the high season, the site was not busy at all, which made for one of the most relaxing snorkeling experiences I had in the Galapagos.
There, I snorkeled with 3 sea turtles, a few sea lions, and many colorful fish species.


The site has a wooden deck with paved stairs that is perfect for storing items, safely entering the water, or just sitting around.
Next time, I will bring a book to Cerro Tijeretas and sit on the wood deck to read in between swims!


Other than the deck, there isn’t any infrastructure there. So make sure to bring your own water, snacks, snorkeling gear, and towels!
4. Hiking up to Cerro Tijeretas
Cerro Tijeretas is a small hill where I could enjoy a beautiful view of the Enseñada. Throughout the trail, there are different stops with different viewpoints, with many of them being perfect for birdwatching!

Though I was not able to spot any nesting frigatebirds there, I could still see them flying overhead.

The trail was in amazing condition and the landscape was beautiful!

5. Enjoying Punta Carola Beach
Punta Carola is a long white sand beach, but it is not ideal for swimming because much of the ocean access is covered by small volcanic rocks.
The beach is not outstandingly beautiful when compared to other ones in the Galapagos, but it has the benefit of being much less crowded than the usual beach!

There, I spotted many sea lions and a few marine iguanas!



Is Visiting The Interpretation Center in San Cristobal Worth It?
In my opinion, The Centro de Interpretacion Ambiental Gianni Arismendy is a must-do activity in San Cristobal! With informational exhibits, snorkeling, hiking, and birdwatching, the site has something for every traveler.

The Interpretation Center was the perfect escape after a jam-packed itinerary. Spontaneously exploring the trails and snorkeling at my own pace felt like a breath of fresh air after several days of 7 AM tours.
Though San Cristobal has a lot more impressive sights to offer, the Interpretation Center is the ultimate rest-day activity!
