
moderate
7 hours
Comfortable swimming ability for surface snorkeling and basic mobility for boarding small boats; suitable for most fit travelers.
A full-day boat trip from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno that circles the towering Kicker Rock (León Dormido) and drops you into some of the Galápagos’ most productive snorkel water—think turtles, rays, and the occasional hammerhead. Practical, immersive, and rich in marine life.
You step onto the skiff and the Pacific cools the air; ahead, two vertical spires cleave the horizon. Kicker Rock, or León Dormido, rises roughly 153 meters from the sea—an eroded tuff cone that now reads like a natural pier into the Blue. The boat hums north-east from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and the shoreline falls away into a mosaic of turquoise and indigo. The guide plots a slow arc around the formation; beneath the surface, the currents weave a highway for marine life.

The Galápagos restricts chemical sunscreens—use reef-safe sunscreen to protect marine life and your skin during long boat exposures.
The trip involves open-ocean travel; take anti-nausea meds before boarding if you’re prone to seasickness.
Equipment is provided but a well-fitting mask improves your underwater experience and helps with clearer photos.
Follow the guide’s brief: no touching animals or coral, and maintain distance from birds and marine life.
Kicker Rock is the eroded remnant of a volcanic tuff cone used as a landmark by mariners; its name reflects local observations of the rock’s shape.
Visitors must follow strict no-touch and no-feed rules; using reef-safe products and staying with the guide minimizes impact on fragile marine habitats.
Protects your skin and the marine environment during prolonged sun exposure on deck and in the water.
Personal gear can improve fit and comfort compared with rental equipment.
Shields skin from sun and from wind chill on the boat between swims.
summer specific
Keeps phone, passport copy, and layered clothing dry during transfers and on deck.