✅ Must Do: Snorkel with sea lions and penguins
✅ Must Eat: Seco de pollo (slow-braised chicken)
✅ Bring Home: Field notebook (document your species list)
🧠 Trivia: Most wild animals show no fear of humans, allowing for incredibly close (and respectful) encounters.
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From snorkeling with sea lions to capturing award-winning photos, this is how to do the Galápagos the “National Geographic” way.
The Galápagos is a year-round destination with two distinct seasons. Do you prefer warm tropical waters for snorkeling, or cooler currents teeming with marine life?
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The Galápagos Islands are a year-round destination. The warm and wet season (December to June) brings warmer water, better visibility for snorkeling, and more active land animals. The dry and cool season (July to November) is known for its garúa (mist), but this is the prime time to see active marine life, including penguins and flightless cormorants.
Read our season-by-season guide on choosing the right time to visit the Galapagos Islands.
To enter Ecuador, which governs the Galápagos, you need a valid passport. Citizens of the U.S., Canada, and most European countries do not need a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. Upon arrival in the islands, all non-resident visitors must pay a $100 USD national park entrance fee in cash.
The official currency of the Galápagos, and all of Ecuador, is the U.S. dollar (USD). You will use U.S. dollars for all transactions. It’s a good idea to have small bills on hand for purchases on the islands, as large bills are difficult to change.
To get to the Galápagos, you must take a domestic flight from the mainland cities of Quito or Guayaquil. Once in the islands, the primary mode of travel is by cruise ship or by island-hopping on small ferries. A cruise is generally the most effective way to visit multiple islands and see the unique wildlife.
Yes, a cruise is the recommended way to see the islands. It allows you to visit more remote, uninhabited islands that are home to unique species. Cruises also include on-board naturalists who provide expert guidance and ensure you get the most out of your experience.
The main ports for Galápagos cruises are located on Baltra Island, San Cristóbal Island, and Santa Cruz Island. Your cruise will begin and end at one of these islands’ airports, from which you will be transferred to your ship.
While many guides speak English, knowing some Spanish is helpful.
Tipping is a common practice on Galápagos cruises. It is customary to tip your cruise guide and the boat’s crew. The amount can vary, but a common guideline is $15-$25 per person per day for the guide and $10-$15 per person per day for the crew.
Yes, the Galápagos are a national park and have strict rules to protect their unique ecosystem. You must always stay on marked trails, never touch the wildlife, and not bring any foreign plants or animals to the islands.
The wildlife of the Galápagos Islands is famously fearless of humans due to a lack of natural predators. This allows visitors to get incredibly close to animals like the giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions. The islands are also where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution.
The Galápagos are a volcanic archipelago located at the confluence of three major ocean currents. This creates a unique ecosystem that supports both warm-water species, like tropical fish, and cold-water species, like penguins and fur seals, which thrive in close proximity.
Each of the major islands has a unique landscape and its own set of endemic species. For example, Española Island is home to the waved albatross, while Fernandina Island is known for its vast marine iguana colonies. Isabela Island is famous for its five volcanoes and the flightless cormorant.
The Galápagos Islands were formed by volcanic activity and have a relatively young geological history. The islands were discovered by a Spanish bishop in 1535 and were largely uninhabited until the 19th century. Their most famous visitor was Charles Darwin, who in 1835 studied the island’s unique flora and fauna, which heavily influenced his work.
Yes, seeing a giant tortoise is a highlight of any trip. You can see these magnificent creatures both in the wild and in breeding centers on islands like Santa Cruz. They can live for over 100 years and are an iconic symbol of the Galápagos.
The Blue-footed Booby is one of the most iconic birds in the Galápagos. It is famous for its vibrant blue feet, which it uses in an elaborate courtship dance to attract a mate. The species is found along the American Pacific coast, but a large population lives and breeds in the Galápagos, making it one of the most sought-after sights for visitors.
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