Kicker Rock Day Tour from San Cristóbal | Galapagos Diving & Snorkeling

Q: Do I need to be a strong swimmer for Kicker Rock?

Yes. There is no beach entry and no shallow shelf: you enter from the boat into open water with the walls dropping away below. You must be a confident swimmer comfortable in deep water. Wetsuits and flotation are provided and the guide stays in the water with a maximum of five people.

Q: When and where is the equipment fitting?

At our centre, one day before your tour. This is mandatory and ensures your wetsuit and fins are correctly sized before you are in deep water.

Q: What is the difference between this tour and the 360° San Cristóbal tour?

This tour concentrates on Kicker Rock with two full snorkeling sessions plus a beach stop. The 360° tour circles the whole island and includes Kicker Rock as one stop among Cerro Brujo, Punta Pitt and Rosa Blanca, so you get more variety but less time in the channel.

Premium Marine Expedition
• Flexible Cancellation

The Majesty of the Sleeping Lion:
Kicker Rock Snorkeling Tour

A full-day snorkeling tour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to León Dormido, the volcanic monolith off San Cristóbal. Two sessions in the water, including the narrow channel where schools of hammerhead sharks and eagle rays pass through.

Departure
07:00 AM

Duration
~ 8 Hours

Guide Ratio
Max 5 per Guide

Base Island
San Cristóbal

Kicker Rock (León Dormido) split into two vertical walls off San Cristóbal, Galápagos

What to Expect on the Kicker Rock Snorkeling Tour

Kicker Rock, called León Dormido locally, is a vertical tuff cone rising roughly 140 metres straight out of the ocean off the coast of San Cristóbal. Erosion split it into two halves, and the narrow channel between them works as a corridor for marine traffic. That channel is the reason people come: scalloped hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles and dense schools of salema move through it. There is no beach and no shallow shelf, so you snorkel over open blue water with the walls dropping away beneath you. It is the single most dramatic snorkeling site in the archipelago.

This tour is built around the rock itself, with two water sessions and a beach stop afterwards. If you would rather see Kicker Rock as one stop within a full circuit of the island, the 360° San Cristóbal tour covers it alongside Cerro Brujo, Punta Pitt and Rosa Blanca. For calmer, shallower water with sea lions, take the Lobos Island tour; for birdlife and the albatross colony, the Española Island day tour.

Kicker Rock Tour Itinerary, Hour by Hour

07:00 AM — Meeting Point in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Meet at the main dock in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. After the safety briefing we board and head out toward León Dormido.

07:45 AM — Navigation to León Dormido

A 45-minute coastal run with sea lions and seabirds along the way, ending at the base of the two towering walls.

08:30 AM — Two Snorkeling Sessions

The first session follows the outer walls. The second goes through the central channel, the hotspot for hammerheads, Galápagos sharks and eagle rays. Your guide stays in the water with a maximum of five snorkelers.

01:00 PM — Hot Lunch & Beach Stop

Hot lunch on board, then we move to a white-sand beach — Manglecito, Puerto Grande or Cerro Brujo, depending on the day — before the return to port.

What’s Included

✓ Authorized Naturalist Guide
✓ 2 Snorkeling Sessions
✓ Complete Snorkel Gear & Wetsuit
✓ Hot Lunch, Snacks and Beverages
✓ Beach Towels

Not Included

✕ Alcoholic or Soft Drinks
✕ Gratuities and Personal Expenses
✕ Galápagos National Park Entrance
✕ INGALA Transit Control Card

What to Bring on the Kicker Rock Tour

Note that a mandatory equipment fitting is required at our centre the day before the tour. If you arrive on the morning of departure without having been fitted, we cannot take you out. Plan your San Cristóbal itinerary around this.

Swimwear & Base Layer – Best worn under your clothes for quick transitions.
Underwater Camera – The channel is where the hammerhead shots happen.
Sun Protection – Reef-safe sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and polarized sunglasses.
Windbreaker Jacket – The return leg gets breezy.
Refillable Bottle – Help us keep the Galápagos plastic-free.
Motion Sickness Pills – Take them about 30 minutes before boarding if you are prone to it.

Kicker Rock Tour: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a strong swimmer for Kicker Rock?

Yes, more than for most Galápagos snorkeling. There is no beach entry and no shallow shelf here: you enter from the boat into open water with the walls dropping away below. You must be a confident swimmer comfortable in deep water. Wetsuits and flotation are provided, and the guide stays in the water with a maximum of five people, but this is not the site for a first-ever snorkel. If you are unsure, start with the Lobos Island tour.

Are hammerhead sharks guaranteed?

No sighting is ever guaranteed, but Kicker Rock is one of the best places in the world for them. Schools of hammerheads are common here year-round because of the deep currents funnelling through the channel.

When and where is the equipment fitting?

At our centre, one day before your tour. This is mandatory and makes sure your wetsuit and fins are correctly sized before you are in deep water. Build it into your schedule when you plan your days on San Cristóbal.

What is the difference between this tour and the 360° San Cristóbal tour?

This tour concentrates on Kicker Rock: two full snorkeling sessions at the site plus a beach stop. The 360° tour circles the whole island and includes Kicker Rock as one stop among Cerro Brujo, Punta Pitt and Rosa Blanca, so you get more variety but less time in the channel. Book this one if the sharks are your priority.

Is there a best time of year to snorkel Kicker Rock?

The tour runs year-round. From December to May the water is warmer and visibility is generally better. From June to November the water is cooler and the currents stronger, which brings more nutrients and often more shark activity, but the conditions are more demanding.

Which beach will we visit during the tour?

Depending on National Park scheduling and the weather, we stop at Manglecito, Puerto Grande or Cerro Brujo. All three are white-sand beaches on the San Cristóbal coast.

Cancellation Policy for the Kicker Rock Tour

• Full Refund: Available for cancellations made at least 15 days prior to departure.
• Late Cancellations: Any changes made within 14 days or “No Shows” are subject to a 100% penalty.
• Weather Safety: If maritime authorities close the port due to extreme conditions, we offer full rescheduling or a 100% refund.