Visitor site · Darwin Island
El Arenal, Darwin: the sandy slope below Darwin's Pillars, with hammerhead cleaning stations, turtles, rays and whale sharks in season. Advanced diving.
About the site
El Arenal, Spanish for "the sandy place", is the sandy slope that runs down from the reef platform of Darwin's Arch, now Darwin's Pillars, off Darwin Island in the far north of the Galápagos. It is one of the classic dives of the islands.
The slope is a meeting point for big animals. Scalloped hammerheads come close over the sand to the cleaning stations, where small fish pick parasites from their skin, and from about June to November whale sharks are often seen. Galápagos and silky sharks, green turtles and the occasional hawksbill, eagle rays, dolphins and schools of jacks and tuna are common, while garden eels and sea stars live on the sand itself.
The dive is done at about 14 to 37 meters (45 to 120 feet), in moderate to strong currents and with surge, so operators ask for experienced divers with plenty of logged dives.
El Arenal is visited only on liveaboard dive cruises, together with the dives at the pillars of the former arch.
Live dates & prices
El Arenal is not on our current cruise schedules. These cruises visit other sites on Darwin Island; ask us and we will tell you which routes come closest.
| Departure | Yacht | Route | Price per person | Mindo gift | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | |||||
| 3 – 10 Nov8 days / 7 nights |
 Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$4,695 |
+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included | See departure2 places left |
| December 2026 | |||||
| 8 – 15 Dec8 days / 7 nights |
Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$4,695 |
+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included | See departureAvailable |
| 22 – 29 Dec8 days / 7 nights |
Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$4,695 |
+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included | See departure1 place left |
| 29 Dec – 5 Jan8 days / 7 nights |
Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$4,695 |
+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included | See departureAvailable |
| January 2027 | |||||
| 5 – 12 Jan8 days / 7 nights |
Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$5,395 | ★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departureAvailable |
| 12 – 19 Jan8 days / 7 nights |
Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$5,395 | ★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departureAvailable |
| 19 – 26 Jan8 days / 7 nights |
Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$5,395 | ★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departureAvailable |
| 26 Jan – 2 Feb8 days / 7 nights |
Aqua DivingDiving cruise · 16 guests
|
A · Darwin, Wolf, Fernandina & IsabelaBaltra | US$5,395 | ★ All-InclusiveWith private guide | See departureAvailable |
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