Ecuador · Snorkelling

Day Trip Santa Fe and Playa escondida with Snorkeling

7 Hours Round trip from EC Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Full-day boat trip to Santa Fe Island and Playa Escondida
  • 02 Panga ride to observe sea lion colonies and coastal wildlife
  • 03 Two snorkeling sessions in reef areas rich in marine life
  • 04 Lunch served on board between activities
  • 05 Interactive experiential fishing during the journey
  • 06 Free time to swim or relax at Playa Escondida
  • 07 Chance to spot sea turtles, rays, sea lions, and colorful fish

Discover the natural beauty of Santa Fe Island and Playa Escondida on a full-day boat adventure from Puerto Ayora. Cruise across to Santa Fe, enjoy a panga ride in the bay, and look out for sea lions, Opuntia cacti, and seabirds along the way.

During the day, you’ll stop for two snorkeling sessions around the reef area to observe local marine life and endemic species, with lunch served on board between activities. The experience also includes interactive experiential fishing and free time at Playa Escondida to swim in clear waters or relax on the sand before returning to Puerto Ayora.

Once at the site, we do a panga ride in the bay to watch colonies of sea lions with their young.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Total Duration: 7 hours

The guide will pick you up in the lobby of the hotel, (Hotel pick up inside the urban perimeter of Puerto Ayora) or we can give you a good meeting point to join with us.

We start at 08:00 in a previously stipulated place. We will be directed to the passenger boarding area that is located in the port of Santa Cruz and then board a boat that will take us to Santa Fe Island (southeast of Santa Cruz), in an estimated 50 minutes.

Once at the site, we do a panga ride in the bay to watch colonies of sea lions with their young. We will also have the iconic presence of Opuntia cacti and on many occasions seabirds such as the blue-footed booby.

As a second activity we do two snorkeling times around the reef area (45 minutes per snorkeling), where you can make an impressive appreciation of a marine fauna stocked by a number of endemic species. Lunch on board takes place between these activities.

Having reached this point on the itinerary, we headed to a third site called Playa Escondida (located on Santa Cruz Island). While we move to the place, an interactive experiential fishing is carried out. Already on the beach, you can choose at your convenience between relaxing in the crystal clear waters or resting on the sand.

Arrival at port may vary. Between 15:30 and 16:00 according to the forecast.

In this tour we will make 2 activities of snorkeling near the island in the best spots to see the local marine fauna, then we will start the experiential fishing activities, come with us to enjoy this fun activity.

The bay throughout its length and breadth is excellent for swimming and snorkeling. Sea turtles, rays, marine wolves, plenty of colorful fishes. 

Once all the activities are done, you'll return to Puerto Ayora.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from EC 2 cities · 7 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Professional Guide
  • Lunch
  • Use of Snorkeling Equipment ( Mask and fins)
  • Hotel Pick Up (Inside the Urban Perimeter of Puerto Ayora)
  • Transportation

What's Not Included

  • Breakfast
  • Food and drinks (Unless specified)
  • Hotel Drop off
  • Wet suits is not included you must rent by yourself if you decide

Know before you go

  • PASSPORT REQUIRED
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • No public transportation nearby
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • This tour is on boat and we practice snorkeling activity
  • There no drop off in the hotel, the tour end in Puerto Ayora's Dock
  • We do not drop off in Santa Fe Island, it is just a boat tour
  • Wet suits is not included you must rent by yourself if you decide
  • The guide will pick you up in the lobby of the hotel, (Hotel pick up inside the urban perimeter of Puerto Ayora) or we can give you a good meeting point to join with us.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
EC
Tour start
EC
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 7 hours finish where they began, in EC.

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