Punta Pitt Tour (San Cristobal) on Galapagos Islands: Our Experience
Quick Facts About Punta Pitt
| Where | At the eastern end of San Cristóbal Island (the northeastern tip) |
|---|---|
| Access | Guided visits only, by boat on a tour with an authorized naturalist guide |
| Known for | Blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca boobies, reported to nest together here and at no other visitor site |
| On land | A wet landing on a beach with sea lions, then a trail up the cliffs to the nesting area |
| Also seen | Frigatebirds, petrels, pelicans and Darwin finches |
Our Take On Punta Pitt
We passed by Punta Pitt during a 360 tour on San Cristobal Island and snorkeled at Pitt Islet and then at Pitt Point from a panga. The rare red-footed booby is the least common booby in the archipelago, and Punta Pitt is the only place in the Galapagos where all three booby species nest together. It is a must-do day tour.
Pitt Point, commonly known as Punta Pitt, is located on the extreme eastern borders of San Cristobal Island. The cheerful and loud barking of the local Galápagos Sea Lion population will greet you after a wet landing right on the beach! This is a bachelor colony of males that haven’t established a breeding territory, and they can be a touch rough around the edges if they’ve been fighting on one of the nearby mating beaches.
Following the commotion of the beach, we follow a calmer road up the cliffs to a nesting spot utilized by all three local species of booby, the Blue-Footed, Red-Footed, and Nazca Boobies. Nowhere else in the Galapagos Islands do all three species nest together like this.
In addition to this unusual booby colony, you may view Galápagos Frigatebirds and petrels. Aside from the amazing bird life, the vista down to the beach and across the island from this high vantage point is worth the trek.
The hiking route allows you to get up and personal with the Saltbush and other resistant bushes that persist in this often scary volcanic terrain.
We passed by Punta Pitt during a 360 tour on San Cristobal Island:
How Do You Get To Punta Pitt?
To go to Punta Pitt you must book a guided tour with a local tour company. Visits are guided only, with an authorized naturalist guide, and access is by boat. The site lies at the eastern end of San Cristobal Island, so a boat tour is the only way in.
To go to Punta Pitt, you must book guided tours with local tour companies.
What Wildlife Lives In Punta Pitt?
Punta Pitt hosts blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca boobies, reported to nest together here and at no other visitor site. Frigatebirds, petrels, pelicans and Darwin finches are also seen, along with the San Cristobal cucuve. On the beach, sea lions greet arrivals, while sea turtles, rays and tropical fish appear in the water.
Some of the interesting wildlife you’ll see in Punta Pitt are:
- Blue-footed boobies
- Nazca boobies
- Red-footed boobies
- Frigates
- Pelicans
- Darwin finches
- San Cristobal cucuves
- Sea lions
- Seagulls
- Sea turtles
- Rays
- Tropical fish
What Was Visiting Punta Pitt Like?
We set sail from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and stopped first at Pitt Islet for a snorkel, then snorkeled again from a panga at Pitt Point. A scenic trail led us to a lookout where we saw all three booby species: Nazca, blue-footed, and the rare red-footed. We returned to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno after lunch on the boat.
We set sail from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to explore the northeast side of San Cristobal Island. Our first stop was at Pitt Islet, where we geared up for our first snorkel of the day. We then hopped on a panga to Pitt Point for a second snorkeling session. After a few days in the Galapagos, snorkeling had become a regular part of our routine, yet the thrill never faded—each island offers something new to discover.
We continued onward to Punta Pitt, where a scenic trail led us to a natural lookout point. The landscapes were impressive, and we had the chance to see all three species of boobies: the Nazca, the blue-footed, and the rare red-footed boobies, the least common species in the archipelago.
Watching the boobies, known as “piqueros” in Spanish due to their diving style, was fascinating. They fuel up by plunging into the ocean for fish, showing impressive speed in flight, but on land, they appear clumsy—a trait that earned them the English name “boobies,” derived from the Spanish “bobo,” meaning “silly.”
After taking in the stunning views and observing the birds, we enjoyed a delicious lunch on the boat before making our way back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Punta Pitt?
Punta Pitt can be visited year-round, with peak tourist seasons typically between mid-December and mid-January and again from mid-June to September. For surfing at Punta Pitt Point, the ideal months are June and December, when waves are consistently clean with good swells and gentle or offshore breezes, though December conditions are sometimes blown out by wind.
Punta Pitt is stunning year-round, though peak tourist seasons are typically between mid-December to mid-January and again from mid-June to September. For those interested in surfing at Punta Pitt Point, the ideal months are June and December, when the waves are consistently clean, offering good swells with gentle or offshore breezes.
In December, you can expect clean, surfable waves around 27% of the time, although conditions are blown out around 15% of the time due to wind.
Is Punta Pitt Worth A Day Tour?
Punta Pitt is a must-do day tour on San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. The site offers hiking, snorkeling and views of unique wildlife, with a wet landing on a beach with sea lions followed by a trail up the cliffs to the booby nesting area. Visits are guided only, by boat.
Punta Pitt is a must-do day tour on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. With opportunities for hiking, snorkeling, and soaking in the incredible scenery and unique wildlife, it’s an experience that truly showcases the beauty of the islands. Be sure to add Punta Pitt to your Galapagos bucket list for an unforgettable adventure!
Planning trip to Galapagos Islands?
My wife and I spent two weeks on these magnificent islands, visited nearly every possible tour, and explored as much as we could. I shared all the important details in my comprehensive Galapagos Islands Travel Guide, where I cover everything you need to know about planning a trip to the Galapagos.
Galapagos Islands travel might surprise you with extra fees to enter the islands, the complicated logistics between islands, booking tours, and knowing which spots are free to explore and which ones are not. I’ve covered it all in this Galapagos Travel Guide.
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Questions About Punta Pitt
What to do on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos?
Punta Pitt is a must-do day tour, reached via guided tours with local companies. After a wet landing on the beach, a trail leads up the cliffs to the booby nesting area, with hiking, snorkeling, scenery and unique wildlife.
Is it worth going to San Cristóbal?
Yes. Punta Pitt is described as a must-do day tour showcasing the beauty of the islands, with sea lions, three booby species, snorkeling and views from the cliffs.
