Bartolome’s popularity is way out of proportion to its size. Just over a square kilometer [less than half a square mile] in area, the island is not much more than a stone’s throw from San Salvador.

Places to visit. A short walk to the 114-meter [380 ft] peak of the island is rewarded by magnificent views of the archipelago. Wear good walking shoes.

Pinnacle Rock
Looking westwards towards Santiago, you see one of the most photographed views in the Galapagos with Pinnacle Rock on the northern shore of Bartolome standing like a finger pointing defiantly to the sky. Galapagos Penguins swim the waters below this rock. This is the best place to see these comical creatures, unless you have the time to visit colonies on Fernandina and the western side of Isabela.

Bartolome is truly a lunar landscape with twisted lava formations, sparse plant life, but plenty of sea creatures, including nesting turtles [late December until early March] and great blue herons.