Going to Las Grietas are just one of the things you may do on Santa Cruz Island.
This tourist site is a geological formation with pools of clear, calm water where you can swim, snorkel, and see different types of fish.
Despite being one of Santa Cruz’s busiest tourist areas, it is worthwhile to visit.
We suggest going either early in the morning or after 4 o’clock.
At the moment, $10 USD per person is required to enter Las Grietas due to capacity restrictions.
As far as we’re aware, Las Grietas was entirely free to visit before 2020. Now it’s NOT.
Other places to see in Santa Cruz:
Where are Las Grietas located?
Las Grietas are located 2.5 kilometers from Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz), in the Punta Estrada neighborhood.
It is a volcanic crack that runs from Punta Estrada to the westernmost point of Bahia Academia, which creates two enormous walls where there is brackish water.
These pools of water are made up of salt water from the sea and fresh water from the island’s mountains.
The depth of these pools is approximately 10 meters.
Its waters are crystalline and appear turquoise in the sunlight.
It is an excellent place to swim and relax, despite the lack of marine life diversity.
How much does it cost to visit Las Grietas?
For a 45-minute tour, each person must pay $10 USD.
This cost includes a tour guide who provides information on the local flora, fauna and surroundings of this area of the Galapagos National Park.
Before you get to Las Grietas, you’ll pass through Playa Los Alemanes, the Salt Pools, and a trail of volcanic rock.
Las Grietas has two platforms; the guide will determine which one you visit based on the number of visitors.
At this spot, you can also go to the Mirador de la Bahia (Mirador Flankin) to take pictures of the area around the island.
Las Grietas is open from 07h30 to 17h00.
What should you bring?
To get to Las Grietas, you must walk along a route of volcanic rock that is particularly abrasive on the skin.
For this reason, I advise you to wear trekking shoes or any other type of footwear other than slippers.
Bring along a swimsuit, a towel, snorkeling gear, and a camera.
On the platforms at Las Grietas, the floor gets slippery, especially if you step on the rocks inside.
Bring water shoes if you have them. Otherwise, be cautious.
Before you enter the trail to these volcanic cracks, you can stop at the nearby bars for refreshments or use the restroom.
So don’t forget your cash.
How to get to Las Grietas in Galapagos?
Las Grietas is only accessible by sea.
You can do it on your own or as part of the Bahia Tour (Tour de Bahía), which includes this and other nearby tourist attractions.
If you want to go on your own, you have to take a taxi-boat from the island’s public pier, which costs 0.50 USD per person.
In less than five minutes, you will arrive at a private dock (owned by a hotel) in the Punta Estrada neighborhood.
From there, walk for about 10 minutes, following the trail signs, until you reach the fee collection point.
You will pass Los Alemanes Beach on the way.
From the toll point, it takes about 10 minutes more to walk to Las Grietas.
