Things to do in the Galapagos
Nowhere else in the world can you splash about in alien-looking lava tubes, while green turtles paddle nearby and sea lion pups come and look you in the eye.![]()
Snorkelling
The Galápagos’ volcanic islands are only one part of the story – what inhabits the waters of the surrounding marine reserve is a very different one. Marine iguanas are on the prowl, Galápagos penguins dive in, and hammerhead and white-tipped sharks lurk in the depths. Read our full guide to diving for tips and advice here.
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Galapagos land based adventure vacation
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
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Galapagos Islands cruise, 10 days
A fantastic, in-depth Galapagos experience
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Galapagos cruise plus Ecuador and Peru
Combine two truly outstanding places in South America
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14 days
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Costa Rica and Galapagos wildlife vacation
Galapagos wildlife cruise plus Costa Rica nature/beach week
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17 days
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Ecuador & Galapagos tailor made tour
Private in-depth tour of Ecuador and The Galapagos
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22 days
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Meet the locals – past and present
David Orrock, from our supplier Pura Aventura, shares one of his favourite things to do in the Galápagos for culture lovers: “Floreana is particularly interesting. It has a very, very small human population – it's practically a village – but you can stay in a small lodge here and it's all run by the locals. You're there and seeing how people are living in a not entirely hospitable environment. For the first couple of hundred years after Europeans saw the Galápagos, everyone thought it was a ghastly place that no one would ever want to stay in. Its harsh, it's volcanic. The other thing about Floreana is the history, because the first proper settlers there in the early 20th century lived on Floreana and there's great stories about these slightly eccentric Germans and Austrians, and the baroness who had two lovers and one of them was murdered and the other disappeared onto a boat... it's really incredible. On each island you get your own guide and they know the island backwards. People don't really go expecting to hear about the cultural history, and they're really surprised when they do.”
The 9km wide, 91 metre-deep crater atop Volcán Sierra Negra is the second largest active caldera on Earth.![]()
Hike up Sierra Negra
The five-hour hike around the rim offers spectacular views of the surrounding volcanoes and ocean, and you can continue on to the bizarre, smoking lava landscape of Volcán Chico, which last erupted in 2005. You’ll walk with an expert guide, who can discuss the flora and fauna as well as the geology – but beware: the black lava landscape intensifies the equatorial heat!
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Galapagos cruises
Sail in a charming red schooner
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8 days
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Tailor made:
Daily departures throughout the year.
Daily departures throughout the year.
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Volunteer
For some, a week-long tour, zipping from bay to bay, may only just be enough to whet the appetite. For those who want to do more than just scratch the surface, volunteering may be one of the most rewarding things to do in the Galápagos. Placements on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal can assist with the replanting of endemic flora as well as eradicating invasive plant species, based out of reserves or research stations. Alternatively, get involved in the local community by assisting English teachers at a primary school.
Volunteer placements normally last two to three weeks, with work carried out on Monday-Friday, leaving you with the weekends free to explore the magical islands you are able to call your temporary home.
More about Galapagos
The best time to visit Galápagos depends on what you want to see, as you can go at any time of year.
Our Galapagos travel guide tells you all about the remote archipelago that's one of the best places to see wildlife in the world.
Plan where to go in the Galápagos and learn what you’re likely to see and do while there with our Galápagos highlights.
Cruising is one of the best ways to explore the Galápagos, read on to choose the right cruise for you.
Land based Galápagos tours are an affordable and authentic way to explore the islands.
Traveling in the Galapagos with kids is a truly magical experience for all the family.
We have lots of Galapagos travel advice for you, from expert naturalists and from travelers who can't wait to go back.
Extinction is the biggest threat facing Galápagos vacations as the ENSO weather system increases in strength.
One of the most eco aware places in the world, responsible tourism in Galapagos is vital. We can all do our bit.
Find all of our Galapagos guides in one place, from wildlife to luxury, or muti activity vacations and more!
