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Galapagos wildlife travel guide

The wildlife is the absolute key reason to visit the Galápagos Islands, and knowing where to go, what to see and when to see are vitally important for making the most of your time away. Our Galápagos wildlife vacations guide reflects what we rate, and what we don’t as well as the best way to tell a blue-footed-booby from a marine iguana.

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GALÁPAGOS WILDLIFE HOLIDAYS GUIDE

The world is filled with wonderful wildlife – much of it bigger, fiercer or more unusual than that of the Galápagos. But nowhere else are animals as fearless and friendly, and that is what lures people to this isolated archipelago, nearly 1,000km off the coast of Ecuador. It’s this extreme isolation that has erased the memories of fear, and shaped the beaks, shells and wings of these unique species, in this living exhibit of evolution.

The experience of swimming with sea lions, walking with tortoises and strolling past salt-snorting marine iguanas is indescribably wonderful.

It's a step back in time to the storybooks of childhood, where animals and humans live side by side. Even more phenomenal is that these species have survived and evolved in one of the world’s harshest environments – a jumble of lava fields and still-smoking volcanoes, which continue to mould the islands today. The Galápagos’ past has been shaped by travelers – including Charles Darwin and fugitive pirates – and modern-day visitors must be mindful that its future, too, is now dependent on them, and that the evolution of Galápagos vacations will be the next big milestone in the islands’ unique story.

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Is/Isn't

Galápagos wildlife is…

the inspiration behind Darwin's theory of Evolution.

Galápagos wildlife isn't…

a petting zoo. It may seem friendly, but please keep your distance!

Our Galapagos wildlife Vacations

WHAT WE RATE & WHAT WE DON'T

underrated

Blue-footed boobies

Although their name derives from the Spanish word for ‘fool’ or ‘clown’ these slightly gawky Galápagos greats are anything but comical in the air, with super speeds seeing them zip over the sea before nose diving into the water in search of unassuming anchovies. Bright blue boots help this bird stand out from red-footed and Nazca boobies; North Seymour Island is the best spot for boobies in summer.

Galápagos finches

Small they may be, but insignificant they certainly aren’t. Galápagos finches are partly responsible for Darwin’s theory of evolution as he recognised that these land birds had adapted to different island environments to create sub-species ranging from ‘cactus’ to ‘ground’ to ‘vampire’. Finches can be found all over the Galápagos including on giant tortoises as they pick ticks from loose folds of skin.

Lava lizards

Lava lizards are prevalent on the Galápagos, especially on the volcanic slopes from where they gain their name. They look a bit like little iguanas and like nothing more than sunning themselves in low lying areas and around the coastline without the need for shade. The hotter the better mantra continues into mating season where males can be seen doing ‘push ups’ to prove their prowess.

Underwater worlds

Island life is only one part of the story; what inhabits the surrounding waters is a very different one. Nowhere else in the world can you snorkel and swim in lava tubes as green turtles paddle nearby, manta rays fly and sea lion pups swim up and look you in the eye. Marine iguanas are on the prowl, Galápagos penguins dive in, and hammerhead and white-tipped sharks lurk in the depths.

Rated

Giant tortoises

‘Galápago’ means ‘tortoise’ in ancient Spanish, and it’s clear why these characteristic creatures were the ones to give the archipelago its name. It’s likely that the islands’ 20,000 tortoises – that include ten separate sub-species – all descend from a single individual who washed up here thousands of years ago, and it’s even possible that some of the hatchlings seen by Darwin in 1835 may still be alive today.

Sea lions

This is the archipelago’s most abundant ocean going mammal although more often than not you’ll catch sea lions in the Galápagos lounging on the beach or wooden decking, making the most of the sun. Rare migration means that sea lions can be seen all year round in the Galápagos but there’s one place to watch them that’s just a little bit more special than most, and that’s underwater.

Cetaceans

Numerous cetacean species can be found making the most of the marine life around the Galápagos Islands with bottlenose dolphins the most frequent and orcas one of the most deadly, especially to sea lions, penguins and dolphins. Migrating humpback and blue whales tend to appear from June to Sept with the water between Isabela and Fernandina the place to be for whale watching in the Galápagos.

Marine iguanas

You've not lived until you've witnessed a double-barrelled salty sneeze from a marine iguana. Agile in the ocean but not so mobile on land these are the only lizards on the planet that can live underwater. In the Galápagos there are six sub-species to be found on and around the coastlines of Isabela, Floreana and Santa Cruz, with the January to March courting season a colourful affair in every sense.

Two-week cruises

A Galápagos vacation is fascinating, but the tortoises all begin to look the same after a few days and only the most obsessive biologists are going to enjoy more than ten days here. Additionally, cruises leave little space for independent exploration. If you do want to stay longer, consider spending additional onshore days near a beach once your tour has finished.

Oversized ships

The assumption is that large vessels – carrying up to 100 passengers – must be the best equipped and the most stable. However, larger ships cannot dock at all the islands, boarding and departing can involve long queues, and you’ll be paying a premium for a slightly more spacious cabin which, in reality, you’ll be doing little more than sleeping in during your Galápagos vacation.

Getting up close

Although animals are abundant in the Galápagos this is not an open invitation to get up close to colourful crabs or pose for selfies with unsuspecting sea lions. Stick to designated paths, only explore with a guide and pay attention to signs warning not to disturb marine iguanas or the nesting sites of green turtles. Some creatures are at risk of contracting germs – please don’t handle, even with care.

“The Galápagos Islands are a unique place for wildlife. The islands were never connected to the mainland and have always been isolated which allowed the endemic species living there to evolve according to their needs. There are no major predators in the islands and therefore the animals you find there are not afraid of anything. For them even the humans that they encounter do not present a threat, they see them as annoying paparazzi at best and allow humans to come up close.” - Andrés Salazar, from our Galápagos wildlife vacations supplier Rebecca Adventure Travel

FOOD, SHOPPING & PEOPLE

Eating and drinking

As most of the population are recent immigrants and most ingredients are imported, there are few typical local dishes, though the seafood is exceptional.

Look out for ceviche, which is different to the Peruvian version. It often contains shellfish marinaded in lime, and is served with popcorn.

Lobster is a local delicacy. Fishing is usually permitted from September-December, but do check if it was harvested sustainably.

Sea cucumber is a highly prized delicacy - as the Japanese believe it is a powerful aphrodisiac. Harvesting it contributes considerably to the local economy.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Galapagos wildlife or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.

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1-866-821-6866

Call toll free

Calling from outside the USA

rosy@responsibletravel.com

People & culture

The Galápagos is cultural melting pot, as people from the Amazon, Andes and coast of Ecuador have migrated here – as well as a small community of researchers and scientists. Spanish is the universal language among the islands’ 27,000 inhabitants, and most people are employed in tourism or fishing.

People from the Galápagos are known as Galapagueños (male) and Galapagueñas (female).

Only four of the islands are populated: Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana and San Cristobal.

Gifts & shopping

The Galápagos is not the best place to purchase South American souvenirs, but beyond the overpriced “I Love Boobies” t-shirts there are a number of craft stalls and high-end jewellers along the waterfront in Puerto Ayora who are making their name on the island.

Avoid any items made with black coral and turtle or tortoise shell. These are threatened species, and the products are illegal.

All profits from the Research Centre gift shop are returned to its projects, so buy your books here rather than off Amazon when you return home!

The Galápagos Marine Reserve, at 130,000km2, is the second largest marine protected area in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

How much does it cost?

Carved wooden figures: £5

Souvenir T-shirts: £21

Bottle of Chilean wine: £4.25

Reduce the cost of your beer – return your bottle to claim your deposit and reduce waste.

A brief history of the Galapágos

For centuries, these inhospitable, lava-encrusted islands were viewed as having little value, other than as a place for pirates to hideout after looting expeditions across South America. The giant tortoises were also valued for their meat, as they could be kept alive on ships during epic journeys, and it is believed that hundreds of thousands may have been removed from the islands. Goats and dogs which were introduced during this period continue to cause some of the most serious environmental damage today.Read more

After the islands became Ecuadorian in 1832, they were used as a penal colony, where prisoners, living in slave-like conditions, were controlled by dogs. In 1835, a young Charles Darwin arrived on the HMS Beagle, and visited four of the islands. His groundbreaking book, On the Origin of the Species, was published 24 years after his only visit to the Galápagos, but it was still not until 1934 that the islands’ incredible biological value was fully recognised, and laws were passed to protect their unique fauna.

The Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos Natural Park were eventually created in 1959 – the park now covers some 97 percent of the land, while a marine reserve protects much of the surrounding waters. The Charles Darwin Research Centre was founded, beginning the essential captive breeding and reintroduction programmes, starting with the giant tortoises. The most significant event in the islands’ rollercoaster history, however, began in the late 1960s, with the arrival of the first mass tourists.

Recent decades have brought both good and bad news to the fragile islands; a new airport and roads have created further environmental damage, yet the archipelago’s declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site brought more funding for its preservation and the enforcement of commercial fishing laws. These, in turn, posed a threat to the human population – who have few economic alternatives to sustain themselves on these far-flung volcanic islands.

Today, tourism is better managed than ever – yet there are also more tourists than ever. Some species which had disappeared from their native islands thanks to hunting or non-native species such as goats have been reintroduced, while others have become extinct forever – including the much-loved Lonesome George, the last remaining Pinta Island tortoise who died in 2012. Tourism growth continues, but it is now as important to the story of the Galápagos as the famous fauna and fauna. The development of the island’s largest industry will have huge impacts on its wildlife as well as its people.

More about Galapagos wildlife

Best time to see wildlife in the Galapagos

The wildlife is the absolute key reason to visit the Galápagos Islands, and knowing where to go, what to see and when to see are vitally important for making the most of your time away.

Galapagos wildlife map & highlights

There are around 20 islands in the Galápagos archipelago that are significant to wildlife watchers and small boat cruises will be able to hop from one to the next or observe life at sea.

Wildlife in Galapagos

Whether you’re a fan of reptiles on land or amazing animals underwater, Galápagos wildlife is always going to conjure that extra special something to ensure this is one animal experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Top 10 Galapagos wildlife species

If you want to know where to see and when to see wildlife in this archipelago, our top ten Galápagos wildlife species page reveals more.

Why is Galapagos wildlife so unique?

There are many reasons why wildlife in the Galápagos is unique and if you'd like to know more this page explains how isolation and conservation have helped to create the captivating environment that you'll find today.

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Written by Chris Owen

Galapagos wildlife travel guide