80 Best Things To Do in The Galapagos

General Info

All the Galapagos islands are part of the Galapagos National Park, and therefore there are a number of things you should know:

• Most of the activities have to be done on a tour with a Naturalist guide.
• All the agencies have the same prices (although you can barter if you book more than one tour).
• Most beaches have opening and closing times (turtle nesting reasons).
• You should book your tour at least one day in advance (or you might risk not having a place on the popular ones).
• Bring Seasickness Medication for the tours on the water.
• Always use strong sunscreen (Sun in the Equator line burns more).
• Have mosquito repellant with you, especially at sunset. There are horseflies in the Galapagos.
• Drones are not allowed for tourists in the park.
• You can’t rent a motorcycle or a car, everything has to be done by taxi, bus, boat, bicycle, or on foot.
• You can’t and shouldn’t touch the animals on the island.

If you want more information please check the Galapagos Conservancy’s website.

Cruise-Based Experiences

1. Cruises in The Galapagos

This is one of the ways to explore the Galapagos. It is on the list because the other 78 activities are land-based, so a cruise is a different kind of trip.

Several companies offer water-based excursions, and they differ in itinerary, comfort and duration. Some islands can only be visited on a cruise: Santiago, Fernandina, Rábida and Genovesa.

The cruises offer you different itineraries depending on which islands you want to visit. Most of them start in Santa Cruz island and they can also visit: San Cristóbal, Isabela, Española, Floreana, North Seymour, South Plaza, and Santa Fé islands.

Viator lists many Galapagos cruises, and it is a partner of this site. Underneath are some of the listings.

If you want to do a cruise in the Galapagos check out my guide: BEST GALAPAGOS CRUISE - A GUIDE FOR ALL THE BUDGETS

2. Liveaboard to Darwin and Wolf Islands

This is a liveaboard cruise for scuba divers. It goes to the northernmost islands of the archipelago, Darwin and Wolf.

The trip is known for large groups of hammerhead sharks, as well as manta rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, tiger sharks, dolphins and, in the right season and with luck, whale sharks.

A company in Santa Cruz, “My Galapagos Tour”, has offered last-minute tickets for this trip. The prices were 2600$ USD for 8 days and 7 nights (diving tour) and 1600$ USD (non-diving tour). The prices are not dated, so check them before you plan.

San Cristobal Island

3. “El Junco” Crater Lake

El Junco is a freshwater crater lake on San Cristobal.

It is located in the crater of an extinct volcano and its name comes from the “junco” plant, very common around the area.

The lake’s diameter is 270 m. and its maximum depth is 6 m, comprising a total of 360.000 m3 of water.

In order to visit it you must hire a taxi, for that reason, it’s usually included in a tour where the taxi takes you to multiple destinations.

This tour is called “The Highlands Tour” or “Tour Parte Alta” and takes you to El Junco Crater Lake, The Giant Tortoise Reserve “La Galapaguera” and Puerto Chino beach.

View the full blog post here: HIGHLANDS TOUR IN SAN CRISTOBAL

4. Giant Tortoise Reserve “La Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado”

The “Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado” or “Centro de Crianza de Tortugas Terrestres David Rodriguez” is San Cristobal’s giant tortoise reserve, every main island has its own and this is the one you can visit on this island.

On its compounds, you can find tortoises of different ages and sizes, from baby to adult ones.

This is a breeding center and what they do is rescue tortoises’ eggs that were recently laid and take them here thus significantly increasing their chance of survival.

In order to visit it you must hire a taxi, for that reason, it’s usually included in a tour where the taxi takes you to multiple destinations.

This tour is called “The Highlands Tour” or “Tour Parte Alta” and takes you to El Junco Crater Lake, The Giant Tortoise Reserve “La Galapaguera” and Puerto Chino beach.

View the full blog post here: HIGHLANDS TOUR IN SAN CRISTOBAL

5. Puerto Chino Beach

Puerto Chino is a secluded beach on San Cristobal island.

There are usually few tourists. You can snorkel, sunbathe and surf, and with luck you may see sea lions.

In order to visit it you must hire a taxi, for that reason, it’s usually included in a tour where the taxi takes you to multiple destinations.

This tour is called “The Highlands Tour” or “Tour Parte Alta” and takes you to El Junco Crater Lake, The Giant Tortoise Reserve “La Galapaguera” and Puerto Chino beach.

View the full blog post here: HIGHLANDS TOUR IN SAN CRISTOBAL

6. San Cristobal’s Interpretation Center

The Interpretation Center or “Centro de Interpretación Ambiental Gianni Arismendy” is the island’s natural and history museum, and an introduction to the Galapagos Islands.

Here you can find information about the history of San Cristobal, and the entire archipelago, from its discovery to its colonization.

Scientific information about its geological formation, and its endemic species.

An area about the preservation and conservation of the Galapagos, and a section about the local people who worked to protect the islands.

I went here while hiking my way to Playa Baquerizo beach and also wrote an article about it.

View the full blog post here: CERRO TIJERETAS AND PLAYA BAQUERIZO HIKE

7. Hike to Cerro Tijeretas (Tijeretas Hill)

This is a viewpoint on San Cristobal, right after the Interpretation Center.

It is not far from the town center.

From here you can see Muelle Tijeretas Dock and, in the distance, Kicker Rock.

I went here while hiking my way to Playa Baquerizo beach and also wrote an article about it.

View the full blog post here: CERRO TIJERETAS AND PLAYA BAQUERIZO HIKE

8. Muelle Tijeretas Dock

It is a place to swim and snorkel. There is a cave with sea lions on the right of the dock, and you will probably find them in the water or on the dock with you (as you can see in the photo).

If you’re in the Interpretation Center, you either go right to the Cerro Tijeretas Hill or go left to Muelle Tijeretas Dock.

It is free, and it is a good place to cool off on the way to Cerro Tijeretas or Playa Baquerizo beach.

I went here on my way back from Playa Baquerizo beach and also wrote an article about it.

View the full blog post here: CERRO TIJERETAS AND PLAYA BAQUERIZO HIKE

9. Hike Your Way to Playa Baquerizo Beach

The hike to Playa Baquerizo beach is free and does not need a tour.

You can actually continue further to another beach but I would say for a normal hiker this is enough, especially on a hot sunny day.

It is a long white sandy beach with few people, because it is a bit hard to reach, and you can snorkel in the water. I saw turtles, many fish and a white-tip reef shark.

On the sand and in the water marine iguanas can also be found here.

View the full blog post here: CERRO TIJERETAS AND PLAYA BAQUERIZO HIKE

10. Discover The Island on a 360º Tour

The 360 Tour is a boat tour around the whole of San Cristobal island.

It suits people who like the water: you go around the island by boat.

The highlights are Bahia Rosa Blanca beach (on the photo underneath), a white sandy beach with turquoise water, snorkeling at Kicker Rock, birdwatching at Punta Pitt, inland exploration and other stops.

View the full blog post here: 360 TOUR IN SAN CRISTOBAL

Book your tour: San Cristobal Galapagos 360 (great reviews)

11. Opuntias (Giant Cacti) Garden Tour

This is a garden of giant cacti in the highlands of San Cristobal island. On this tour you can see other fauna and flora endemic to the Galapagos, and on the last stop you swim at the beach.

The operator “Agencia Turística Huellas de Darwin” runs this tour by mountain bike with a naturalist guide, and it includes a lunch box.

I did not take this tour.

If you do the tour with them I’d love to hear some feedback from you down in the comments, thanks!

To book this tour contact them at:

 

12. San Cristobal’s Downtown

The downtown of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the “capital” of San Cristobal, is easy to explore on foot.

Sea lions are everywhere in town: on benches, on the beach, inside stores and sometimes in the middle of the road.

There are also some other special attractions like the Charles Darwin statue with its ship The Beagle, many cafes and restaurants, and a ton of things to do.

Most tours and activities start from here. It is quieter than Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz island.

Locals call the island “La Isla Bonita”, the pretty island. I miss it and would like to go back.

13. La Loberia Beach

La Loberia is a long free beach with sea lions and marine iguanas. It was the first activity I did on the island.

When I went into the water a baby sea lion started playing with me and we raced. I also saw turtles swimming around.

There is a National Park guard taking care of the beach and some minor facilities such as the guard’s tower where you can hide if it starts raining.

You need to take a taxi to reach it or rent a bicycle and cycle your way there. I did a whole post about it and added the numbers of some taxi drivers you can call to take you there.

View the full blog post here: LA LOBERIA BEACH IN SAN CRISTOBAL

14. Punta Carola Beach

Punta Carola is a free beach near the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

It is long and usually not crowded, and you can watch the sunset from here.

To reach it you have to walk perhaps 15 mins from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno’s downtown.

You can surf here, and you may also swim near sea lions and marine iguanas.

View the full blog post here: PUNTA CAROLA BEACH IN SAN CRISTOBAL

15. Kayak From Playa Mann to Playa Ochoa

If you like water sports and adventure you might like this tour. It’s a 5-6 hours tour on the water.

This tour is provided by the same company that does the Opuntias Garden tour “Agencia Turística Huellas de Darwin”.

If you do the tour with them I’d love to hear some feedback from you down in the comments, thanks!

To book this tour contact them at:

16. Playa Mann Beach

This beach suits groups of friends and families who want more than nature alone.

There are kiosks where you can get some snacks and drinks, you can play music on the beach, watch the sunset and relax next to some sea lions.

This beach is 10 minutes away from downtown and it’s also on the way to Punta Carola beach, so if you find it too busy you have a close-by alternative.

View the full blog post here: PLAYA MANN BEACH IN SAN CRISTOBAL

17. Coffee Tour at Cafetal El Trinar

San Cristobal has a coffee farm, Cafetal El Trinar, that offers a coffee tour.

The tour is not widely advertised.

Coffee is grown on San Cristobal, and it is Arabica coffee.

To book this tour contact them at:

18. Surf in San Cristobal

San Cristobal has 8 surf spots.

I do not usually surf, so I cannot judge the waves myself. My guide to the best beaches in San Cristobal lists the surf spots and the beaches for other activities.

View the full blog post here: 5 BEST BEACHES IN SAN CRISTOBAL

19. Española Island - Day Trip

Española Island is home to several species that exist only there.

It’s a day tour and it’s the only big island (not counting Santa Cruz island) you can visit on a day trip from San Cristobal.

Here you can find a special marine iguana with green and red coloration, a waved albatross colony (almost the entire world population breeds there), the Española mockingbird, the Española lava lizard, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and many other unique species.

There is also a part of the tour where you snorkel or dive in Gardner Islet and find many underwater wonders.

View the full blog post here: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND | FULL DAY TOUR

To book this tour: Check the local company Wreck Bay’s website, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

20. Isla Lobos Island - Half Day Trip

Isla Lobos island tour is a mixed tour, both on water and on land.

You have a 1-hour stroll on the island where you can spot sea lions, frigate birds, and blue-footed boobies and also do some snorkeling and find rays and turtles. In the end, you will go to Playa Ochoa for some beach time.

I visited Isla Lobos island on the way to Kicker Rock for my first dive in San Cristóbal. Here is where you do the test dive to check your skills.

To book this tour: Check the local company Planet Ocean Galapagos website, or book it online on Viator here: Tour Lobos Island from San Cristobal

21. Dive/Snorkel in Kicker Rock

Kicker Rock is a well-known dive site in the Galapagos.

With luck and good visibility, you can see hammerhead sharks, eagle and manta rays, Galapagos sharks and turtles.

If you’re not a diver, you can go for a cheaper price on the same boat as your friends and snorkel here.

The snorkeling group on my tour saw more than we did, so you can also see a lot from the surface.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN KICKER ROCK

Book your tour: San Cristobal Galapagos 360 - Snorkeling Tour (Kicker Rock) - (it’s not the actual Kicker Rock Tour, it’s the 360 Tour, but it stops at Kicker Rock for Snorkeling)

22. Dive in Carawa Shipwreck and Tijeretas Bay

The Carawa SS wreck is a transport ship that sank around 1920, about 100 meters long.

Divers first do a check dive at Tijeretas Bay, a natural lagoon with sea lions and green sea turtles, before diving the wreck.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN CARAWA WRECK AND TIJERETAS BAY

23. Dive in Whale Rock

Another possible diving tour you can do on San Cristobal is to Whale Rock whose name comes from its similarity to a whale coming to the surface.

On this dive you can find pompano, jacks, stonefish, sea turtles, anemones, rays and sometimes sharks.

Check the Whale Rock dives on Planet Ocean Galapagos’s website.

24. Dive/Snorkel in Punta Pitt

If you’ve done the 360 Tour then you probably recognize this place. It’s where you do the birdwatching on that tour.

It is the northeasternmost point of San Cristobal and the turning point from the wild to the calm sea (protected by the island). It is therefore packed with marine life and birds.

On this tour, you have two dives or you can snorkel if you aren’t a certified diver.

In the end, you go to Cerro Pitt hill for some birdwatching and inland exploring or just stay at the beach relaxing.

Check the Punta Pitt dive/snorkel trip on Wreck Bay’s website.

25. Night Dive in San Cristobal

Planet Ocean Galapagos offers night dives on San Cristobal.

Many animals are more active at night, so a night dive can show species that are harder to see by day.

The light of your torch also shows colors that are hard to see at depth.

Check the Night Dives on Planet Ocean Galapagos website.

26. Cave Dive in Barranco Cave

The last San Cristobal activity is a cave dive, another type of dive offered on the island.

According to their website, you will see nudibranchs, many different types of fish, sea stars, and lobsters and you will dive from 23 meters to 34 meters deep (specific certification required probably).

Contact the dive center if you would like to try it, since it may be possible as a specialty course.

Check the Cave and Wall Barranco dive on Planet Ocean Galapagos website.

Santa Cruz Island

27. Pit Craters “Los Gemelos”

Here one can see two valley-shaped pits covered with vegetation. They formed when ancient lava tunnels collapsed. When the lava cooled and contracted it left unstable structures that collapsed with time and let vegetation take over.

In order to visit it you must hire a taxi, for that reason, it’s usually included in a tour where the taxi takes you to multiple destinations.

This tour is called “The Highlands Tour” or “Tour Parte Alta” and takes you to the Pit Craters “Los Gemelos”, the Lava Tunnels, and to the Giant Tortoise Reserve “El Chato” or “Las Primícias”.

View the full blog post here: HIGHLANDS TOUR IN SANTA CRUZ

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams’s website, or book it online on Viator here: The Giant Tortoise Experience | Lava Tubes + Los Gemelos

28. Lava Tunnels

These tunnels formed in the same way as the pit craters: the outer layer of the lava that came into contact with the air cooled into a solid shell. Today you can walk inside that shell.

In order to visit it you must hire a taxi, therefore, it’s usually included in a tour where the taxi takes you to multiple destinations.

This tour is called “The Highlands Tour” or “Tour Parte Alta” and takes you to the Pit Craters “Los Gemelos”, the Lava Tunnels, and to the Giant Tortoise Reserve “El Chato” or “Las Primícias”.

View the full blog post here: HIGHLANDS TOUR IN SANTA CRUZ

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams’s website, or book it online on Viator here: The Giant Tortoise Experience | Lava Tubes + Los Gemelos

29. Giant Tortoise Reserves of “El Chato” or “Las Primícias”

It is a popular attraction for local families, so it can be busy. It is not a breeding center like the Charles Darwin Research Station that I describe next. It is a private ranch, where the lava tunnels are also located, and giant tortoises walk around freely.

As for facilities, there is a restaurant, a gift shop, and a small museum with ancient giant shells for you to see. On the right side of the museum, there is also a tourist attraction where you can go inside a shell, pretending you’re a tortoise, with the letters “I <3 Las Primícias” behind you, and take a photo.

In order to visit it you must hire a taxi, therefore, it’s usually included in a tour where the taxi takes you to multiple destinations.

This tour is called “The Highlands Tour” or “Tour Parte Alta” and takes you to the Pit Craters “Los Gemelos”, the Lava Tunnels, and to the Giant Tortoise Reserve “El Chato” or “Las Primícias”.

View the full blog post here: HIGHLANDS TOUR IN SANTA CRUZ

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams’s website, or book it online on Viator here: The Giant Tortoise Experience | Lava Tubes + Los Gemelos

30. Charles Darwin Research Station

The Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz island is a center for science and conservation projects in the Galapagos, where techniques to protect the species of the islands are studied and developed. If you are a scientist or a student, or interested in conservation, you can volunteer here.

In the Research Station you will also find a giant tortoise breeding center and Lonesome George, the last known tortoise of his kind, who died in 2012. You can see many Galapagos endemic plants and some information about Charles Darwin. There is also a cafeteria, bathrooms and a public library.

View the full blog post here: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION

31. Nymphs Lagoon

The Nymphs Lagoon in Santa Cruz is a lagoon full of mangroves, a short walk from the center of Puerto Ayora. It is a stop on the way to Tortuga Bay beach, and it is free and family friendly.

To reach the Nymphs Lagoon or Laguna de Las Ninfas, you can either go by taxi, bike, or on foot, nevertheless, I advise you to go on foot as it’s in the middle of the city. It’s not permitted to swim, fish, kayak, or disturb the animals around the lagoon.

View the full blog post here: NYMPHS LAGOON IN SANTA CRUZ

32. Station Beach

There are two main beaches part of the Charles Darwin Research Station complex. Station Beach is one of them. Both have lots of rocks and little sand next to the water. There aren’t usually many people here, thus it is a place to consider spending the day in you can also easily park your bike at the entrance.

You can usually find a couple of marine iguanas disguised as rocks around the beach. It is a place to swim and snorkel, and apart from the Alemanes beach (on the other side of Puerto Ayora) there is no other nearby beach for a short swim on a hot day. It is free, and a good place to cool off after some hours at the research station.

View the full blog post here: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION

33. Santa Cruz’s Downtown

Spend some time exploring Puerto Ayora, the capital of Santa Cruz island. It is the island with the most tourist infrastructure of the three main ones, and it has plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes and shops.

Also visit the fish market, where pelicans and sea lions come for a snack. There is a giant tortoise statue, and the area around the dock often has events. During the day you can spot schools of golden rays and reef sharks from the dock.

34. La Ratonera Beach

La Ratonera is the farthest beach in the Charles Darwin Research Station area. It is closer to the open sea, and it is known for its waves for surfing.

This beach has lots of rocks and little sand next to the water, and there are usually not many people here. It is free, and a good place to cool off after some hours at the research station. You can usually find a couple of marine iguanas disguised as rocks around the beach.

View the full blog post here: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION

35. Love Channel

The Love Channel or Canal del Amor is a turquoise channel between lava walls. If you go to the famous Las Grietas by yourself you will probably miss it. It is included in a tour called the Bay Tour or Tour de Bahia.

It’s called the Love Channel as couples used to come here to have fun. Nowadays it’s forbidden to swim here, but it’s still a beautiful place to appreciate and take some photos, and from the wooden viewpoint, you can observe shorebirds and reef sharks.

View the full blog post here: BAY TOUR IN SANTA CRUZ

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator here: Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island

36. Las Grietas

Las Grietas or “The Rifts/Crevasses” is a canyon-like structure filled with water, a lava rock formation of two cliffs separated by an ocean water fissure. Here you can swim and snorkel, so bring your snorkel kit.

It’s usually crowded and lately, a minimum price of 10$ USD must be paid at the entrance even if you come without a tour. If you do come with a tour, a common one is called “Bay Tour” or “Tour de Bahia” and it also includes the Love Chanel, Playa de Los Perros beach, and Las Tintoreras baby reef-shark pools.

View the full blog post here: BAY TOUR IN SANTA CRUZ

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator here: Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island

37. Playa de Los Alemanes Beach

Playa de Los Alemanes or Germans Beach is next to Las Grietas and is a place to relax with your family. You can come for 1$ USD by water taxi from the main port of Puerto Ayora. Come at low tide, because the sand almost disappears at high tide. The water is usually calm and shallow, which makes it a good spot for snorkeling.

You might be lucky your hotel is nearby and you can come here whenever you want. If it’s not and you come on the Bay Tour you can ask your guide to stay on the beach and later just pay for a water taxi to go back.

View the full blog post here: BAY TOUR IN SANTA CRUZ

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator here: Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island

38. Tortuga Bay Beach

Tortuga Bay is a beach on Santa Cruz island. Its name comes from the turtles that come to lay their eggs on the beach. Its white sand is home to many marine iguanas, and baby reef sharks swim in the shallows.

Here you can surf, sunbathe, kayak and relax. It is located roughly 3 km southwest of Puerto Ayora town on Santa Cruz island. Tortuga Bay consists of two beaches, the longest one, with waves called Playa Brava (Brave beach), and a smaller and quieter one without waves called Playa Mansa (Tame beach).

View the full blog post here: TORTUGA BAY BEACH IN SANTA CRUZ

39. El Garrapatero Beach

El Garrapatero is another alternative beach you can go to on Santa Cruz island if you’ve already been to Tortuga Bay. This white-sanded beach has a lagoon next to it usually with many flamingos. On the beach you can swim, kayak, sunbathe and relax. The beach is located 20 km northeast of Puerto Ayora town and to reach it you have to take a taxi and then walk a short path to the beach.

View the full blog post here: EL GARRAPATERO BEACH IN SANTA CRUZ

40. Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) Tour

The Cerro Dragon or Dragon Hill tour is usually booked with a cruise, because it is on the northwestern point of Santa Cruz island. Its main attractions are the orange land iguanas and the marine iguanas, which give the place its name. You will also see many Opuntia giant cacti and probably flamingos and other birds. On some of the tours you can snorkel and you might see baby reef sharks and sea lions.

Here I’ll leave you some companies whose yachts pass there: Letty by Ecoventura, Celebrity Xpedition by Celebrity Cruises, Explorer II by EQ Touring, La Pinta and Isabela II by Metropolitan Touring.

To book this tour please check with the tour agencies on the island, I couldn’t find any online that I could honestly suggest to you apart from the cruises.

41. Hike to Media Luna, Puntudo and Cerro Crooker Hill

This is probably the only proper wild hike you can do on Santa Cruz island that doesn’t require a tour. You first need to go to Bellavista by taxi and then start your hike uphill to the middle of the island’s highlands. It’s an 8 km hike until the base of Cerro Crooker hill and it should take you around 3 hours each way.

You will have beautiful views over the entire island’s volcanic hills. Here you can see the miconia vegetation of the island and the Galapagos Petrel bird that nests on these mountains. Please don’t go off track as you can destroy some of the nests or get lost.

42. Coffee Tour at “El Trapiche Ecológico Galapagos”

Coffee is also grown on Santa Cruz, and the farm El Trapiche Ecológico Galapagos offers a coffee tour.

To book this tour contact them at:

43. Surf in Santa Cruz

Although San Cristóbal is more famous for surfers than Santa Cruz island, there are also spots here for surfing. Accessible by foot you can go to Tortuga Bay, La Ratonera beach, Tres Picos, Playa el Bazan beach, and Piedra Ahogada. Then there are other more remote places that you can only access by boat, like Ola Escondida, Punta Gallina, and Punta Nuñez.

44. Bartolomé Island - Day Trip

The Bartolomé Island Tour is a full-day tour on a sailing ship that starts at Santa Cruz island, passes the Daphne islands and arrives at Bartolomé, a small island next to Santiago. With luck, you might spot some penguins, as we did, and you go snorkeling on one of the beaches nearby.

The name of the island comes from Charles Darwin’s friend Bartholomew James Sullivan, who was the principal surveyor and second lieutenant aboard the HMS Beagle. Bartolomé is a volcanic tuff islet on the east side of Santiago island.

View the full blog post here: BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND TOUR

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

45. North Seymour Island - Day Trip

North Seymour island is located on the north part of Santa Cruz island, over Baltra island (aka South Seymour island). You will see just like in Cerro Dragon hill (on the northern part of Santa Cruz) and on Baltra island, beautiful orange land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, marine iguanas, and probably sea lions.

Both North and South Seymour Islands were named after the British royal navy officer of the late 18th century, Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour. If you’re more fond of scuba diving, I wrote a full article on my dive here that I’ll link underneath.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN NORTH SEYMOUR AND MOSQUERA

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

46. Isabela Island - Day Trip

Isabela is the largest island of the archipelago. If you have time, I recommend sleeping there and starting your tours from there instead of doing a day trip. Large parts of the island are uninhabited and closed to ordinary visitors.

Most of the Isabela day tours include the Tintoreras islets, where you snorkel next to Puerto Villamil town and will probably see some penguins and reef sharks. You can ask the Galapagos Dreams travel agency whether they can organize Los Túneles instead of Tintoreras, where you can see underwater lava structures and wildlife.

The Los Tuneles tour costs more and is farther away than Tintoreras. If you do not have the time, here are a couple of Isabela day tours you can book from Santa Cruz.

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

47. Floreana Island - Day Trip

The Floreana Island Tour has a history of piracy, an Austrian baroness and her love trio, a German doctor who lost all his teeth, and murder.

This tour has to be done with an agency or you can alternatively take a boat to Floreana island and spend multiple days there, as there is some infrastructure on the island (not like in Bartolomé Island where you can only visit it on a tour).

The name of the island comes from Ecuador’s first president Juan José Flores, whose administration officially recognized the Galapagos islands as part of Ecuador’s territory. Previously the island was called Charles island (after King Charles II of England) and Santa Maria island (one of Columbus’s caravels). Floreana is the 4th and last island with human settlements in the Galápagos archipelago.

View the full blog post here: FLOREANA ISLAND TOUR

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

48. Plazas Islets - Day Tour

These are two of the many uninhabited islets in the Galapagos. They were formed by an uplift of the seabed giving it its flat but very unique shape. They are located on the northeastern side of Santa Cruz island.

The visit is in the channel between the North and South Plaza islets, in the part where the islet slopes a little towards the water. There are many opuntia cacti and very beautiful red low-ground vegetation. On this tour, you will see many iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, and blue-footed boobies. You end up on the tour snorkeling at Punta Carrion where you will see a plenitude of marine life.

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams’s website, or book it online on Viator here: Day Trip to South Plaza Island from Puerto Ayora

49. Santa Fé Island - Day Trip

Santa Fé is one of the bigger islands in the Galapagos, 20 km from Santa Cruz, so it is usually part of the daily tours from Santa Cruz. The island is known

You will probably find the endemic Santa Fé island land iguanas (yellow colored), blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and other seabirds. After the walk, you can snorkel from the boat and see marine life. If you’re interested there are also pure snorkeling and scuba diving tours to Santa Fé.

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours below:

50. Snorkel in Daphne Mayor Island

On this snorkeling tour, you will go near Daphne Mayor island and to Bahia Borrero. You will find a great concentration of birds and sea lions, as it is a natural fishing area. Here you will have the chance to fish your lunch, if you can’t fish anything there’s always the normal lunch menus available. While snorkeling you might spot eagles and manta rays and also some reef sharks.

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams’s website

51. Snorkel in Pinzon Island

On this snorkeling tour, you will go to Bahia Pinguino in Pinzon island and then to an islet in the near. On the way back you will go to a beach in Santa Cruz only accessible by boat, called La Fé beach.  Pinzon is only possible to visit on a snorkeling tour. And due to its proximity to Santa Cruz, you can find many tour agencies that do it.

While snorkeling in Pinzon you will find on the beautiful clear turquoise water, many tropical fish, baby and adult sea lions, white-tip reef sharks and turtles, usually huge ones, and blue sharks. At La Fé beach you can relax or go snorkeling again. Here you might see marine iguanas, puffer fish, manta rays, and starfish.

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator below:

52. Snorkel in Santa Fé Island

Santa Fé is one of the biggest islands in the Galapagos and it’s located just 20 km away from Santa Cruz. For that reason, it’s usually part of the daily tours available from Santa Cruz. Santa Fé has very calm currents and turquoise water. Here you will be able to swim with sea lions and find starfish, tropical fish, and turtles. With a bit of luck, there might even be manta rays.

In the end, you will visit a hidden beach inside a beautiful bay only accessible by boat where you can relax and take nice photos. If you’re interested there are also land and scuba diving tours to Santa Fé.

To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dreams, or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

53. Dive in Gordon Rocks

Gordon Rocks is a dive site in Santa Cruz known for hammerhead sharks. Only the liveaboard to Darwin and Wolf and the Dive in Kicker Rock, starting from San Cristobal island, are more widely known.

As a diver myself, I would be disappointed to leave the Galapagos without seeing a hammerhead shark. This is where I saw my first ten hammerheads and my first manta rays.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN GORDON ROCKS

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website, or book it online on Viator here: Daily diving tour in Gordon Rocks

54. Dive in Punta Carrion

This dive site is just one hour east of the Itabaca channel. It is the northernest point of Santa Cruz island. Here there are usually no strong currents and for that reason, it is a very nice site for divers from all levels. You have a great chance of diving together with playful baby sea lions and with a tad of luck, you will find sea turtles, eagle rays, hammerheads, and dolphins.

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website

55. Dive in North Seymour Island

The North Seymour dive site is usually combined together with other islets in the near like, Mosquera or Daphne Minor. North Seymour island is located on the north part of Santa Cruz island, over Baltra island (aka South Seymour island).

Both North and South Seymour Islands were named after the British royal navy officer of the late 18th century, Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour. In North Seymour, you can find an eel garden, some reef sharks resting on the sandy bottom, and morays. If you’re lucky some eagle and manta rays, and some Hammerhead sharks might pass near (i saw a hammerhead there). North Seymour is usually the check dive before the other islets where strong currents are more common.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN NORTH SEYMOUR AND MOSQUERA

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website.

56. Dive in Mosquera Islet

Mosquera islet is located north of Santa Cruz island, in between the North and South Seymour islands. The name “Mosquera” comes from the Spanish and it is the name of a flower in the daisy family, the yellow fleabane flower. It is a dive where there are usually strong currents.

In Mosquera you will usually see a reef shark cleaning station and a sea of starfish. If you are lucky you might spot hammerhead sharks, green turtles, eagle rays, manta rays, golden cownose rays (we saw a group of 15), giant puffer fish, king angelfish, blue and gold snappers, razor surgeonfish and other fish. It is a dive for people who have already done Gordon Rocks.

View the full blog post here: DIVING IN NORTH SEYMOUR AND MOSQUERA

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website.

57. Dive in Bartolomé Island and Cousin Rock

Bartolomé Island is a volcanic tuff islet on the east side of Santiago island, northwest of Santa Cruz. The journey there takes 90 minutes by speedboat and two hours by sailing boat (like on the day land tour).

The name of the island comes from Charles Darwin’s friend Bartholomew James Sullivan, who was the principal surveyor and second lieutenant aboard the HMS Beagle. As on the land tour you could spot some penguins, and here you might swim with them and also see some starfish.

Here, as in many places in the Galapagos, you can see reef sharks and tropical reef fish such as the yellow-tailed surgeonfish. With luck you might spot mobulas, rays, seahorses and other sharks. The dive does not include the climb to the viewpoint for the best-known view of the island. On this tour you will also dive at the Cousin Rock dive site.

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website.

58. Dive in Daphne Islands

There are three main dive sites in the Daphne islands, Daphne Mayor (10-40m depth), Daphne Minor (5-30m depth), and Bajo de Daphne (5-25m depth). The diving tour in Daphne Islands is usually combined together with a dive in North Seymour or Mosquera islet.

Depending on your dive site you might find a small cave (not a cave dive) with reef sharks, a pinnacle with a variety of rays, Galapagos sharks, green turtles, tropical fish, and schools of barracudas, among other animals. If you are not a certified diver there is also a snorkeling tour available where you fish your own lunch and can spot many seabirds fishing with sea lions.

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website.

59. Dive in Floreana Island

On Floreana, you can scuba-dive in four different sites, Punta Cormoran, Enderby islet, Devil’s Crown islet, and Champion islet. At Punta Cormoran the main attractions are batfish, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, barracudas, eagle rays, and green turtles.

In Enderby, the dives take place at the extreme edge where the currents hit the reef and if you’re extremely lucky you might find Whale sharks. In Devil’s Crown, the highlight is to see an endemic coral, the cleaning station, Galapagos sharks, and white-tip reef sharks. At the Champion islet, you’re accompanied by a large group of sea lions during the entire dive.

If you’re interested in the day trip and land tour to Floreana island the article underneath might help you.

View the full blog post here: FLOREANA ISLAND TOUR

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website.

60. Dive in Plaza Islets

These are two of the many uninhabited islets in the Galapagos. They were formed by an uplift of the seabed giving it its flat but very unique shape. They are located on the northeastern side of Santa Cruz island.  As you could snorkel, in the Plaza islets you can also dive.

Here the dives are usually between 15 and 18 meters in depth, you can see an eel garden and bigger pelagic species like rays, sharks, and green turtles. The dive is fit for all kinds of level as there isn’t usually strong currents on site. If you’re lucky you will also able to dive with playful sea lions.

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website.

61. Dive in Santa Fé Island

And to conclude the list a dive on Santa Fé island,  one of the biggest islands in the Galapagos, that it’s located just 20 km away from Santa Cruz.

Santa Fé has three dive sites: the Tip, the Arc and the Cliff. The visibility is usually over 10 meters and can reach 20 to 25 meters. The water is usually calm, which makes it a possible place for a diving certification.

To book this tour: Check the local company Macarron Scuba Diver’s website

Isabela Island

62. Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano

The Sierra Negra Volcano Tour in Isabela island is a guided hike to the rim of Sierra Negra’s caldera and to Chico Volcano.

You will walk on the rim of the massive Sierra Negra volcano’s caldera, whose last eruption happened just in 2018, and visit the Chico Volcano, a little offspring of Sierra Negra with a view to the Northwestern part of Isabela Island.

This tour has to be done with a Naturalist guide from the Galapagos National Park. You can book a tour with an agency and they hire the guide. You can’t simply hike your way up, unfortunately.

Along the hike, the landscape changes at least three times. From foggy and green, to dry and orange, and then to red and black. At the last stage, everything around you looks like an apocalypse. It’s an impressive and desolate place created by the destructive force of nature.

View the full blog post here: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO TOUR

To book this tour:  Check the local company Coral Blanco Tour Operator (click on the icons), or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

63. Concha de Perla Lagoon

The Concha de Perla Lagoon in Isabela is a beautiful lagoon full of mangroves that you can visit just a short walk from Puerto Villamil town. You don’t have to pay for the entrance and is great for a family escape or snorkeling adventure.

You will probably see marine iguanas on the wooden deck before entering the water, and fish. With luck, you might spot some turtles and perhaps some reef sharks and rays.

View the full blog post here: CONCHA DE PERLA LAGOON

64. Wall of Tears

The Wall of Tears on Isabela Island is a controversial attraction. It is a stone wall built between 1946 and 1959 by inmates of the former Isabela Penitentiary Colony. Hundreds of prisoners were forced to work under extreme conditions and many of them died. They built the wall for no other purpose than to punish them.

It is a hard place to visit because of its history, and the landscape around it is also worth seeing. If you like hikes and views, you can go on from here to the El Radar viewpoint, which overlooks the Isabela beachfront.

View the full blog post here: WALL OF TEARS IN ISABELA

To rent a bike: Check any of the many local bike shops in Puerto Villamil.

65. Cerro Orchilla Hill Viewpoint

Cerro Orchilla Hill is one of the highlights of the way to the Wall of Tears. It is a beautiful hill that overlooks the southern part of Isabela island. From there you can see Puerto Villamil town, the shore, and many small volcanic hills surrounding it.

If you don’t have the time or energy to go to the Wall of Tears this is a very nice alternative to see the green landscape of Isabela from above. It’s free to go and you can easily stop at the Playita beach on the way here or explore the Humedales - Wetlands park.

I went here on my way to the Wall of Tears. Pay attention if you park your bike down there on the bicycle park if there are any thorns on the floor cause I accidentally punctured my tire that way.

View the full blog post here: WALL OF TEARS IN ISABELA

66. El Radar Viewpoint Hike

The El Radar Viewpoint hike in Isabela Island is a short but beautiful hike you can do after arriving at the Wall of Tears.

The Wall of Tears is a stone wall built between 1946 and 1959 by inmates of the former Isabela Penitentiary Colony. Here hundreds of prisoners were forced to work under extreme circumstances. They built this wall for no other purpose than to be punished. While enduring this hardship many people died.

On your way to El Radar Viewpoint, there are other beautiful viewpoints like the Wall of Tear’s viewpoint, some meters after the wall.

From all of them, you can have a beautiful view of Isabela island’s beachfront and its green landscape.

View the full blog post here: EL RADAR VIEWPOINT HIKE

67. Puerto Villamil Beach

The Puerto Villamil beach or Playa Isabela in Isabela island is a 4 km beach that runs along the whole seaside of the town.

It has white sand and turquoise water, and it is a good place to relax. You will see pelicans fishing and marine iguanas, and on the east side there is a place to surf.

View the full blog post here: PUERTO VILLAMIL BEACH

68. Isabela’s Downtown

Spend some time exploring Puerto Villamil’s downtown (Isabela island’s capital). Puerto Villamil has a large white beach running along the whole town, and compared to Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz it is a quieter place. There aren’t half as many tourists as in Santa Cruz and you can have a pretty chilled time here.

The restaurants are all very similar and local, there are just a couple of international food restaurants and the rest serves you fish and ceviche and local specialties. There are some bars on the beachfront if you want to go for a drink at night while watching the waves breaking on the sand and everything is very easily reached due to the town’s small size.

In the backyard of Puerto Villamil, there are some lakes where you can find flamingos and there is a small stadium in town where sometimes they make live events.

69. Los Humedales - Wetlands

Los Humedales or the Wetlands is a natural park full of different types of mangroves and lakes and it stands on the way to the Wall of Tears. Here you can find many animals including flamingos and giant tortoises.

In Los Humedales park there is another attraction which is a beach called Playa del Amor or Love beach where marine iguanas go for some intimacy.

It’s a free park and you can go here on your way to The Wall of Tears, Cerro Orchilla Hill, and El Radar hike.

View the full blog posts here: WALL OF TEARS IN ISABELA and EL RADAR VIEWPOINT HIKE

70. La Playita Beach

La Playita beach is the main alternative to Puerto Villamil’s beach and it stands right at the beginning of Los Humedales Park and some meters after the main beach. Here you can come at the end of your Wall of Tears bicycle ride or to say that you went to a different beach in Isabela.

Honestly, it is nice and it has more like a bay feeling but with a giant beach like Puerto Villamil’s beach next to the town where there aren’t almost people you don’t necessarily need to find a remote beach on this island. In any case, if you look for alternative beaches this is it.

View the full blog posts here: WALL OF TEARS IN ISABELA or PUERTO VILLAMIL BEACH

71. Los Tuneles - Cabo Rosa

The Los Tuneles or Cabo Rosa tour in Isabela island is a snorkeling tour with a lot of wildlife.

We saw on the surface blue-footed boobies, penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas and orange crabs and underwater reef sharks, turtles, a sea horse, a sea lion, an eagle ray, a stingray, an octopus, a lobster, and beautiful schools of fish.

Underwater there are lava structures with tunnels and caves, and we also saw, as in the Angelita cenote in Mexico, a hydrogen sulfide cloud.

View the full blog post here: LOS TUNELES TOUR IN ISABELA

To book this tour:  Check the local company Coral Blanco Tour Operator (click on the icons), or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

72. Trillizos Volcano

The Trillizos Volcano Tour takes you inside a cave in the Sierra Negra volcano. Inside you will find the hole where lava was expelled many years ago and a room full of quartz, among other things.

According to Jhan the son of Ulise, our guide, previously they didn’t know the hole was there, so their cows used to fall inside once the vegetation was too thick and then they would go down and collect the meat leaving the bones behind (you can still find them there).

The entire cave is not completely explored. Only a couple of rooms are. If you look in Google Maps and follow the lines of the Trillizos volcano until the Sierra Negra one you can actually see there might be other caves all the way through, completely unexplored.

View the full blog post here: TRILLIZOS VOLCANO TOUR

To book this tour: Contact the owners, Ulise and Jhan, directly (click on the icons), or book a tour with them online with Viator:

73. Las Tintoreras

Las Tintoreras islet is the tour included in most day trips from Santa Cruz to Isabela.

It is an area on the water, 10 minutes by boat from Puerto Villamil’s town that was formed when the lava of Sierra Negra’s volcano got in contact with the oxygen forming a solid outer shell, like a lava tunnel’s carcass, and because it is on the water it formed some canals where daily hundreds of baby reef sharks (tintoreras) tend to go to. Here you will also see blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and with luck some penguins.

After the land tour, there is some time for snorkeling where you might find turtles, rays, and sea lions.

To book this tour:  Check the local company Coral Blanco Tour Operator (click on the icons), or book it online on Viator with any of the tours underneath:

74. Sierra Negra Sulfur Mines

I did not take this tour. Instead of seeing the volcano from a viewpoint, with its red and black lava, you visit a sulfur mine with yellow deposits and constant smoke, and you can smell the sulfur.

It is an alternative if you have already seen the volcano from the top. I would like to do it on a future trip.

If you want to do the Sierra Negra Volcano tour I’ll leave you the link down below.

View the full blog post here: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO TOUR

To book this tour:  Check the local company Coral Blanco Tour Operator (click on the icons), or book a tour online with them underneath:

75. Giant Tortoise Reserve “Arnaldo Tupiza Chamaidan”

If you followed along on the other islands’ articles you noticed there is always a Giant Tortoise reserve, and this is the one in Isabela island. It is free and it stands ca. 15-20 minutes away from Puerto Villamil’s downtown on foot. On your way and after the reserve you can find many lakes with flamingos and other endemic birds.

These giant tortoise reserves are breeding centers where the eggs of giant tortoises that were laid around the island in the wild are protected, thus preventing the attacks of predators. Here they have a much bigger chance of surviving into adulthood and living longer than they would normally.

To come here:  This is the location of the Tortoise Reserve (click on the pin):

76. Cueva de Sucre

The Cueva de Sucre is another natural attraction on Isabela island. It is the entrance to a lava tunnel, just like in Santa Cruz but on a smaller scale.

If you want to visit this cave you need to rent a taxi (22 minutes away from town) or try to plan it with a tour company to take you here maybe on your way to the Sierra Negra Volcano tour or the Volcan Trillizos tour.

It is free to enter and there is a picnic area on its compounds.

To come here:  This is the location of the cave (click on the pin):

 

77. Surf in Isabela

As with the other islands, Isabela is also a great spot for surfing. Here apart from the main Puerto Villamil beach, which is ideal for beginners, you can go surfing in El Faro, El Hospital, Barahona Point, and Quinta Ola.

If you are not a surf expert, many places around town offer surf lessons.

78. Snorkel in Tortuga Island

Tortuga Island or Brattle Island is a small islet southeast of Puerto Villamil, shaped like a half-moon, which is the rim of the crater of an extinct volcano. The snorkeling tour here is advertised for the chance to see hammerhead sharks and manta rays.

After a 45 minutes speed boat ride you reach the island and there is some birdwatching time to try and spot blue-footed and Nasca boobies, frigate birds, and other species, and then it’s snorkeling time where you will hopefully find hammerheads and manta rays, then there is some deep-sea fishing and you eat lunch at Loberia beach, after lunch and after some more snorkeling, you go back to Puerto Villamil.

To book this tour: Check the local company Pahoehoe Galapagos’s website.

79. Snorkel in 4 Hermandos and Cartago Bay

Los 4 Hermanos islands is another great place to see some hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, and even manta rays. It is located 1 hour away by speed boat to the northeast of Puerto Villamil’s town. Here like in the Tortuga Island snorkel tour you’ll have a chance to do some deep-sea fishing and fish your own tuna with the crew that will later prepare it as ceviche for lunch.

After Los Hermanos the tour takes you to Cartago Bay where you can snorkel a bit more and see some green turtles, tropical fish, rays, and sharks.

To book this tour: Check the local company Pahoehoe Galapagos’s website.

80. Dive in Tortuga Island

The Tortuga Island dive tour is a dive tour on Isabela island that does not depend on a cruise, with the chance to dive among hammerhead sharks and manta rays.

This is a small islet located in the southeast of Puerto Villamil town, roughly 45 minutes away by speed boat and it has a shape of a half-moon clearly being the crater’s rim of an extinct volcano.

To book this tour: Check the local companies Pahoehoe Galapagos and Galapagos Isabela Dive Center (they have mostly good reviews, but since I didn’t do any tour with these companies I would recommend you take your own conclusions).

Where to Stay in The Galapagos

All the Articles About The Galapagos

San Cristobal Island - The easternmost island of the Galapagos, the “Isla Bonita”

Santa Cruz Island - The island with the most tourist infrastructure.

Isabela Island - The largest of the three main islands.