Galapagos Islands Santiago - The black lava island

Island Santiago - the island in the heart of the archipelago

Galapagos Islands Santiago, also known as James or San Salvador Island, is the fourth-largest island in the Galapagos archipelago. Its unique landscape is made up of long beaches with eroded remnants of black lava, which serves as a great reminder of its volcanic origins. Only parts of the island are open for tourism. There is a circular trail that takes you past lava caves and an old salt factory.

You can visit Puerto Egas in northwestern Santiago, where its black beach has become one of the island’s main attractions due to its 100-year-old volcanic tuff deposit. You will find sea lions and marine iguanas sunbathing on the beaches there too!

In the 17th and 19th centuries, Buccaneer Cove was a safe haven for pirates, sailors, and whalers. The cliffs of this picturesque bay are nesting sites for hundreds of seabirds. Two of the most famous rock formations are El Monje and Roca Elefante. You can take your time to enjoy a stroll along the beach, go for a refreshing swim or snorkel with the marine animals.

Bahía Espumilla Bay is located in the northeastern part of Island Santiago. Along this bay, you can visit the Palo Santo (holy wood) forest. Further down the beach, you will find sea turtle nests, Galapagos hawks, lava herons, yellow-crowned night herons and cliff herons.

Sullivan Bay is situated on the east coast of Galapagos Islands Santiago. The highlight of the island is to take a 1.5-kilometre walk through the striking pahoehoe lava (solidified lava with a puffy pillow-like or wavy surface). We highly recommend visiting this part of the island in the afternoon when the weather conditions are good and the lighting is perfect for photography.

Island Santiago at a glance

Area: 585 km2
Highest elevation: 907 m
Population: uninhabited

Ways to get there: hotel/cruise ship, small boats

Santiago Island Tours

The island Chinese Hat

Galapagos-Tour: Chinese Hat

Duration: 1 - 1 days
Highlights: Bootstour, Schnorcheln, Weiße Strände, Seelöwenkolonien

10h I Erleben Sie die kleine Insel Chinese Hat vor der Küste der Insel Santiago

From ,-
Price per pax

✪ Santiago Island Tours ✪

The island Chinese Hat

Galapagos-Tour: Chinese Hat

Duration: 1 - 1 days
Highlights: Bootstour, Schnorcheln, Weiße Strände, Seelöwenkolonien

10h I Erleben Sie die kleine Insel Chinese Hat vor der Küste der Insel Santiago

From ,-
Price per pax
Dragon Hill at Santa Cruz Island

Ecuador & Galapagos trip with the experts 2026

Duration: 15 - 15 days
Highlights:

This trip is accompanied by Galapagos and Ecuador expert Beate Zwermann, founder of Galapagos PRO.

From ,-
Price per pax
Charles Darwin statue on San Cristóbal

Galapagos compact - from 6 days - San Cristóbal

Duration: 6 - 10 days
Highlights: San Cristóbal Island, Snorkeling at Kicker Rock, Santa Cruz Island, Charles Darwin Station, Bartolomé Island, Sullivan Island, Plaza Sur Island

6-Days/5-Nights - Island Hopping - 6 Islands - Hotels and Excursion Program with Española Island.

From 1210,- USD
Price per pax
Red-footed Booby

Galapagos Cruise: Northern Red-footed Booby Route

Duration: 8 - 10 days
Highlights: Red-footed boobies, Bartolomé, Santa Cruz, Plaza Sur, Land Iguanas

Discover the smallest boobys - the rare red-footed boobys in the enchanting Galapagos Islands

From 2280,- USD
Price per pax
Flightless Cormorants

Galapagos Cruise: Western Cormorant Route

Duration: 8 - 12 days
Highlights: Flightless Cormorants, Volcano, Urbina Bay, Isabela Island, Pinguine, Meerechsen beim Schnorcheln

Discover the endemic flightless cormorant on the island of Fernandina

From 3110,- USD
Price per pax
Isabela II

Galapagos Cruise Complete

Duration: 14 - 18 days
Highlights: Genovesa, Fernandina, Española, Bartolomé, Flora und Fauna komplett

Take your time to discover the true essence of the Galapagos

From 5990,- USD
Price per pax
Dragon Hill at Santa Cruz Island

Ecuador & Galapagos trip with the experts 2025

Duration: 15 - 15 days
Highlights:

This trip is accompanied by Galapagos and Ecuador expert Beate Zwermann, founder of Galapagos PRO.

From 8470,- USD
Price per pax