Full-Day Kicker Rock Adventure: Snorkel with Hammerheads off San Cristóbal
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
7–8 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate cardiovascular fitness and comfort swimming in open water; ability to enter/exit boat ladder and snorkel for 20–30 minute sessions.
Overview
A full-day boat tour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Kicker Rock offers up-close snorkeling with turtles, reef and hammerhead sharks, and playful sea lions. Expect guided swims through a dramatic channel of basalt towers, a beach lunch, and close wildlife encounters under Galápagos National Park rules.
Full-Day Kicker Rock Adventure: Snorkel with Hammerheads off San Cristóbal
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You step off the whitewashed pier of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno before sunrise and the sea presses up against the hull like a promise. The boat slips away from town and the shoreline unfurls — low cliffs, cacti-studded ridges, and the slow wake of frigatebirds overhead. Thirty minutes later, a pair of basalt towers rises from the blue: Kicker Rock, or León Dormido, a fractured volcanic neck sliced by waves into two looming columns. It feels less like a landmark and more like a gate to another element.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Take motion-sickness precautions
If you get queasy, take a stable dose of antiemetic the night before and again an hour before departure; open-deck boats still roll in swells.
Wear reef-safe sunscreen
Apply biodegradable sunscreen before boarding to protect coral and marine life; reapply with a shirt or rashguard to minimize lotion in the water.
Bring your own mask and fins
Equipment is provided but personal gear fits better and improves underwater photos and comfort during extended swims.
Protect your feet onshore
Water shoes make exits onto rocky beaches and jetties easier when landing at Manglesito or Cerro Brujo.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion
- green and hawksbill sea turtles
History
San Cristóbal was one of Darwin’s first island stops in 1835; local villages grew around whaling and later fishing, shaping the island’s human story alongside its unique wildlife.
Conservation
Visits operate under strict Galápagos National Park regulations and licensed naturalist guides to minimize disturbance; use reef-safe products and avoid single-use plastics to reduce impact.
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Adventure Hotspots in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Personal snorkel mask and fins
Better fit and clearer vision underwater than rental gear, especially for long swims.
Reef-safe sunscreen and lip balm
Protects your skin and the marine environment from harmful chemicals.
Light wetsuit or rashguard
Keeps you warm during Humboldt season when water temps drop and visibility can be cold.
winter specific
Water shoes
Useful for rocky beach landings and slippery docks.