Visitor site · Santa Cruz Island
Whale Bay, Santa Cruz: a quiet cove on the west coast with a green olivine beach, whalers' history, sea lions and a hill with views. Wet landing.
About the site
Whale Bay, Bahía Ballena in Spanish, is a small cove on the west coast of Santa Cruz with a beach of greenish sand. The color comes from olivine, crystals formed in the magma deep underground and washed out of the volcanic rock.
The bay has a long history. Whalers used it as a harbor and a camp, and loaded giant tortoises here as fresh meat for their long voyages; in 1846 there were two or three houses on the shore. Pieces of old pottery are still found in the area, and like everything in the park they must be left where they are.
It is one of the more open visitor sites of the Galápagos: after a wet landing, visitors can walk along the beach and climb the hill behind it, a steep scramble rewarded by a fine view over the coast. Galápagos hawks, Darwin's finches, mockingbirds, blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds are common, and sea lions and marine iguanas rest on the beach.
Whale Bay is one of the quietest and least visited sites in the islands, and few cruises include it today.
Wildlife you can meet
Choose an animal to see the departures whose route visits its home.
Blue-footed boobySee cruises →
Giant tortoiseSee cruises →
Marine iguanaSee cruises →
Galápagos sea lionSee cruises →
FrigatebirdSee cruises →Photographed in the islands by David Brito, Dana Tours.
Live dates & prices
Whale Bay (Bahía Ballena) is not on our current cruise schedules. These cruises visit other sites on Santa Cruz Island; ask us and we will tell you which routes come closest.
| Departure | Yacht | Route | Price per person | Mindo gift | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | |||||
| 15 – 18 Nov4 days / 3 nights |
 Coral I & IIFirst Class motor yacht · 36 guests
|
A · Genovesa, Bartolomé & RábidaBaltra | US$2,104 | Complimentary nightsAll meals & transfers | See departureAvailable |
| 15 – 22 Nov8 days / 7 nights |
Coral I & IIFirst Class motor yacht · 36 guests
|
A+B · Genovesa, Fernandina, Isabela & BartoloméBaltra | US$4,908 | + Mindo PlusActivity tickets included | See departureAvailable |
| 15 – 22 Nov8 days / 7 nights |
 Origin, Theory & EvolveLuxury motor yacht · 20 guests
|
A · Española, Floreana, Bartolomé & North SeymourSan Cristóbal | US$10,950 | ★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departure2 places left |
| 15 – 18 Nov4 days / 3 nights |
 Grand Queen BeatrizFirst Class motor yacht · 16 guests
|
A · Isabela & FloreanaBaltra | US$2,019 | Complimentary nightsAll meals & transfers | See departure1 place left |
| 15 – 19 Nov5 days / 4 nights |
 HermesLuxury catamaran · 20 guests
|
A · Fernandina, Isabela & North SeymourBaltra | US$9,250 | ★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departureAvailable |
| 15 – 19 Nov5 days / 4 nights |
 MoniqueLuxury catamaran · 16 guests
|
D · Genovesa, Bartolomé & SantiagoSan Cristóbal → Baltra | US$5,190 | ★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departure1 place left |
| 16 – 19 Nov4 days / 3 nights |
 LegendLuxury cruise ship · 100 guests
|
A · Genovesa, South Plaza & Santa FeBaltra | US$2,104 | Complimentary nightsAll meals & transfers | See departureAvailable |
| 16 – 23 Nov8 days / 7 nights |
LegendLuxury cruise ship · 100 guests
|
A+B · Genovesa, Fernandina, Isabela & SantiagoBaltra | US$5,229 |
★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departureAvailable |
Santa Cruz Island
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