About Galapagos Islands
A cruise visiting several islands is the best way to see a wide range of wildlife and the diversity of the Galapagos Islands. This allows you to visit different islands, including the more remote ones, as well as visiting the islands early in the morning, one of the best times for observing the wildlife.
Galapagos Wildlife
The main reason the Galapagos Islands have become such a popular tourist destination is because of the ability to observe so many species of animals at such close quarters. Galapagos wildlife is fearless and will come right up to you, so you can snorkel with sharks and turtles, play with sea lions, learn about fascinating finches and walk amongst giant tortoises and iguanas.
There are 26 species of native birds on the Galapagos Islands, 14 of which make up the group known as Darwin’s finches. These birds are considered to be the fastest-evolving vertebrates in the world. On Charles Darwin’s trip to the Galapagos Islands in the 1830s, he noticed that certain species (finches, for example) were similar from island to island, but each had managed to adapt to their environments in different ways. Darwin wondered about the changes in their beaks, and realised that they were all slightly different shapes to make them fitter to survive on available food. Read our blog about Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution to find out more.
Galapagos booby
There are three species of boobies on the Galapagos Islands, although none are endemic. The blue-footed booby has bright blue feet. These are well known for their comical courtship dance. The red-footed booby has red feet and blue bills. It is found most commonly on Genovesa Island. The masked booby is the largest of the boobies and has a black patch over its eyes.
Waved albatross
The waved albatross is the largest bird in the Galapagos, with a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres and weighing up to 5kg, is endemic to the island of Española. It breeds from April to December on the islands, and spends the rest of the year gliding over the Pacific Ocean.
Frigate bird
The frigate bird is represented by two species on the islands: the magnificent frigate bird and the great frigate bird. They have a wingspan almost as wide as the albatross, although they are much lighter. The male frigatebird has a red flap of skin under its neck which it inflates to attract females.
Flightless cormorant
The flightless cormorant is the only flightless seabird in the world apart from the penguin, and it is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. There are estimated to be only 800 pairs and is found on Fernandina and the west coast of Isabela.
Galapagos hawk
The Galapagos hawk is at the top of the terrestrial food chain and is mostly found on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina. With an average wingspan of 120cm, they are easily spotted and one of the world's rarest birds of prey, with a population of just 150 breeding pairs.
Galapagos penguin
The Galapagos penguin, the most northerly of the world’s penguins, is found mainly on Isabela and Fernandina, as well as on Bartolome. Snorkelling with penguins is often one of the highlights of a visit to the Galapagos National Park.
Additionally, there are a number of other sea birds, shore birds and land birds found on the islands including the famous Darwin finches.
Giant tortoise
Possibly the most well-known animal in the Galapagos National Park is the Galapagos tortoise. The word ‘Galapagos’ actually derives from an old Spanish word for tortoise. There are currently at least 10 surviving subspecies, with 4 species extinct. Lonesome George was the last surviving member of the Pinta tortoise subspecies, but he died in 2012 without producing any descendants. The giant tortoise can weigh up to a quarter of a ton and live to over 170 years old. In February 2019, a giant tortoise was spotted on the island of Fernandina, after not being seen for more than 110 years and feared to be extinct.
Green turtle
The Galapagos green turtle is the only turtle species to breed and nest on the Galapagos Islands, and can often be seen when snorkelling or from boats. Weighing up to 150 kilograms, they can swim up to 35 mph over long distances and can be seen throughout the archipelago.
Iguana
Galapagos land iguanas are found on many of the islands, and can be over a metre in length. They spend their time either sprawled in the sun or seeking shade in the cacti, rocks and trees. They live in the drier parts of the Galapagos Islands and sleep in burrows to conserve their body heat. The marine iguanas on the Galapagos Islands are the only seagoing lizards in the world and can dive to depths of up to 20m and can stay underwater for up to an hour at a time. When they enter the water, their heartbeat slows to half its pace in order to conserve energy and feed for as long as possible.
The Galapagos sea lion is one of most frequently seen animals on the islands. The bulls weigh 250kg and can be aggressive. Females and young, however, are very playful, and will often swim around you when you are snorkelling. Fur seals are less common, but can be seen on Santiago island.
There are also two species of bats and two of rats on the islands.
Several species of whales and dolphins are seen around the islands, with bottle-nosed dolphins often seen surfing the waves at the bow of boats. There are also 400 species of fish in the Galapagos Islands, of which 50 are endemic. Sharks are often seen when snorkelling, with the most common species being the white-tipped reef shark and the Galapagos shark. Hammerheads are sometimes seen when diving. Rays are also common and often seen, including the giant manta ray, which can be 6 metres from tip to tip.
Galapagos Cruises vs Hotels
If you prefer to be based on land, then staying on an island allows you to experience the wildlife during the day but return to the comforts of a good hotel in the evening.
Read our blog comparing Galapagos cruises with island stays.
We offer cruises on boats ranging from 14-berth sailing yachts to 90-berth expedition ships. In all cases you have land and sea excursions in small groups of a maximum of 16 people, and the opportunity to go snorkelling. There is usually a morning excursions and an afternoon excursion every day, with lunch on the boat. On some days you will visit two different islands, and on other days you will visit different visitor sites on the same island. All boats visit a range of islands, offering you the chance to see the wildlife in the different parts of the Galapagos Islands.
The smaller boats (14 – 16 passengers) are more intimate, so you will get to know your guide and shipmates better. However, they do not necessarily have the same on board comfort as the larger ships. Sea movement is felt more, and there may be some engine noise when sailing at night.
The larger ships (48 - 90 passengers) have better on board facilities, larger cabins and the most experienced guides. The excursions are carried out in small groups, but it does take longer to disembark and embark for the excursions. The ships are also more stable, helpful if you are prone to sea sickness. Expected tips are higher.
All cruise ship itineraries are designed around creating opportunities for observing wildlife.
If you prefer to stay on dry land, the Galapagos Finch Bay offers the opportunity to have an excursion per day, returning to the comfort of your hotel in the late afternoon, in time for a swim in the pool.
A Typical Day on a Galapagos Cruise
Although each boat has a slightly different routine on board (e.g. some have buffet meals and some have served meals), all follow a similar pattern.
Days on the Galapagos start early with breakfast from around 7am, and by 8.30am your group will be assembled for the morning activity. You will visit one of the individual islands (usually by small boat). Upon arrival you’ll have either a wet landing, where you step out of the boat into shallow water and wade up to the beach, or a dry landing, where you step off the boat onto rocks.
On each island your guide will explain the unique characteristics of its fauna, flora and geology, highlighting different aspects depending on the island. Generally speaking, each island in the Galapagos offers something different for visitors to see, be it specific bird species, an impressive view of the other islands, interesting volcanic rock, or mangrove swamps.
You will usually explore the islands by foot and often an island stop is followed by the opportunity to snorkel – getting to see some of the Galapagos’ marine life, including tropical fish, dolphins, small sharks and marine iguanas.
After the morning activity, you will return to the boat for lunch and have a few hours to relax, perhaps bird or dolphin-watching from the deck. In the afternoon you will once again set out on an activity, returning late afternoon. You can then enjoy a drink before dinner is served. During the meal, your guide will explain the following day’s itinerary and afterwards you can relax before bed. The boats sail at night, meaning that you wake up in the morning at the next island, and thus not wasting any valuable wildlife-spotting time.
Click here to read our blog about how much you can expect to pay for a holiday to the Galapagos.