Kai Single, who works for Papaya Tours out of our Ecuador office, recently tested the 360-degree tour of San Cristobal island in the Galápagos. In just one day, Kai managed to get a fantastic overview of the island's many facets, an experience he’s excited to share with us in this article.
Tourism supporting local fishermen
To start, here are a few facts about the day: the tour takes place on and around San Cristobal, the easternmost and one of the oldest islands in the Galápagos archipelago. Officially, this excursion is called the 360-degree "Pesca Vivencial" tour, literally "the fishing experience." The goal is to introduce participants to the world of fishing around the Galápagos islands. It was designed to give local fishermen a chance to benefit from the economic impact of tourism, an opportunity they don't often get. However, for many tourists, myself included, the fishing aspect is secondary. My main motivation for this trip was to get the most comprehensive look possible at the San Cristobal coastline, as this is the only tour that also covers the east coast.
The 360-degree excursion is capped at 10 people and takes you to 5 different spots throughout the day. It includes shore excursions, swimming, and simply enjoying the boat ride to take in the surrounding scenery. I have to emphasize that the navigation itself is definitely one of the highlights of the trip! The tour starts in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the main port of San Cristobal. Depending on the current, you’ll head either clockwise or counter-clockwise to circle the island.
The full tour of San Cristobal in 5 stops
1/ Kicker Rock
So, those are the facts, now for my personal experience. I decided to take this tour because I was interested in the east coast of San Cristobal, and no other tour allows you to explore it, even the cruise ships don't go there. After doing some research, mostly focused on seasickness, I signed up for the 360-degree tour. I looked into it online because I was worried that my frequent motion sickness might keep me from enjoying the day. My conclusion: finding the right boat for this tour is the key to a worthwhile investment and an unforgettable day. Once I was well-informed and confident in my choice of boat, my excitement for the trip only grew.
We set off in the morning and headed toward our first stop, Kicker Rock. From the boat, we first admired this impressive rock formation where many birds nest. Then, we jumped into the water with our masks and snorkels, hoping to spot the famous hammerhead sharks. Unfortunately, we weren't that lucky. However, we did get to see a rich variety of marine life, including turtles, rays, and beautiful exotic fish.
2/ Cerro Brujo
Back on the boat, we headed north. Leaving Kicker Rock behind, we made our way to Cerro Brujo, nicknamed "Witch’s Hill." We admired this strange rock formation from the boat while listening to our guide explain how it was formed. From the crevice of Cerro Brujo, we had a magnificent view of Kicker Rock.
3/ Bahia Sardina
Further north, we made our first landing at Bahia Sardina, where we walked along a beautiful white sand beach. We weren't very lucky with the weather, as the sun kept ducking behind the clouds, but that didn't stop us from spotting seals and iguanas lounging on the beach and discovering a lovely little bay.
4/ Punta Pitt
Back on board, we headed toward the northeastern tip of San Cristobal, which is also the easternmost point of the Galápagos. At this spot, called Punta Pitt, you can occasionally spot the famous red-footed boobies along with many other bird species. I have to say, I liked Punta Pitt so much that I would have loved to stay longer, but this 360-degree tour only makes a very brief stop there. Plus, you can only see the red-footed boobies from a distance, which would certainly be different on a longer excursion.
As we headed out to open water so our guide could show us some fishing infrastructure, a large pod of dolphins swam past us, a breathtaking sight!
5/ Bahia Rosa Blanca
Next, we went to my favorite spot, Bahia Rosa Blanca. This bay is located on the east side of San Cristobal and is simply stunning. On the way, we had our lunch, a typical Ecuadorian meal of fish and rice, all in a paradise setting.
Once we arrived at Bahia Rosa Blanca, we went ashore. The white sand, the warm sun, and the iconic Galápagos animals made for a splendid setting for our second swim of the day. Thanks to the calm water and the sun, visibility was excellent, and we were lucky enough to spot a whole group of sharks hiding under nearby rocks. This snorkeling session was truly an exceptional experience that I highly recommend to any marine life lover! After enjoying some free time on the beach to relax, we returned to the boat and headed back to our port of departure. This time, the trip took longer because of the distance back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Back at the port, we were all a bit tired from the day, but very happy to head home with all those beautiful memories.
My thoughts on this excursion
This excursion offers the huge advantage of providing a very comprehensive discovery of San Cristobal in just one day. All the island's must-sees, both in the water and on the coast, are on the itinerary. Even the east coast, which is normally inaccessible to tourists, can be visited.
However, this format might not suit people who want a lot of time at each location. By trying to fit so much into one day, you run the risk of only getting a vague impression of each place, some of which really deserve more time to soak in their unique atmosphere. I felt this particularly at Punta Pitt, where I would have liked more time and more information. Of course, you have to keep in mind that several excursions allowing for longer stays at each spot would inevitably be more expensive! So, with the 360-degree tour, you get a good overall impression of San Cristobal and its most beautiful spots at a good price, all in a single day.
Those interested in more detailed explanations and deeper observations might want to consider additional individual excursions. Your opinion of this tour will inevitably depend on your expectations: if you choose this trip to see a lot in a short time, you certainly won't be disappointed and will have a great time!
Planning to visit the Galápagos? Come check out all our tours in Ecuador and the Galápagos.
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