I had a great experience on this half-day Santa Cruz tour and would absolutely recommend it — it’s the perfect option if you want to see a lot without committing to a full-day excursion.
The boat was comfortable, and while you’re not cruising around for long stretches, it’s a really smooth and enjoyable way to get between stops. They provide snorkel gear, towels, and a little snack. The crew was honestly one of the highlights — funny, friendly, and super helpful. Our main guide, Eddy, was AMAZING. He spoke both English and Spanish and was incredibly personable and knowledgeable about the animals, landscape, and nature. He was funny and made the whole tour feel fun and relaxed.
The stops themselves were beautiful and totally worth it. We saw blue-footed boobies and other birds, cacti, sea lions, iguanas, and sharks. There was a snorkeling stop that was around 25 minutes. I got in briefly, but the water was a bit cold for me (January, and no wetsuit). When I swam back early, the captain let me hang out on the bow in the sun, which ended up being such a peaceful moment — just warming up, looking out at the ocean, and enjoying the view.
The “hikes” are very easy — clear paths with some rocks, nothing strenuous at all. It’s also not an overwhelming amount of walking, but you’ll definitely get hot and be in the direct sun, so bring sun protection.
Las Grietas was super cool, and I really liked that there’s a meeting point there with bathrooms and a small stand selling snacks, beer, and popsicles. Our group stopped there for a bit before heading back to the boat, and it was a really nice break.
One note: the order of stops may change depending on weather, timing, and how busy other tours are, but you still get to visit everything.
Overall, this tour was such a great way to get a taste of Santa Cruz Island in just an afternoon. Highly recommend!