WILDLIFE IN GALÁPAGOS
Our Galapagos wildlife Holidays
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
Galapagos land based adventure holiday
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
Galapagos & Amazon wildlife holiday, Ecuador
The ultimate wildlife trip to the Amazon and Galapagos
Galapagos cruise options, tailor made
The greatest wildlife experiences tailor made
Flexible Galapagos Islands tailor made tour
Your choice of four to eight-day land-based adventure
Galapagos Islands holiday
Home to many interesting species of endemic wildlife
Galapagos & Machu Picchu holiday in Ecuador and Peru
Discover Peru's Machu Picchu and the Wildlife-rich Galapagos
Costa Rica and Galapagos wildlife holiday
Galapagos wildlife cruise plus Costa Rica nature/beach week
Ecuador & Galapagos holiday, tailormade
Discover the Andes, Amazon and Galapagos
Galapagos activity & wildlife holiday, land based
Tailor-made land-based activity holiday in Galapagos
Galapagos cruise holiday
Discover rich marine life, abundant bird colonies and stunning landscapes
Galapagos Islands cruise, 10 days
A fantastic, in-depth Galapagos experience
Galapagos multi activity holiday
An amazing adventure Galapagos Multi-sports
Ecuador and Galapagos tour
Explore the Andean landscapes in Ecuador and the Galapagos
Budget Ecuador and Galapagos holiday, 23 days
Experience all of Ecuador for travelers on a budget
Classic Galapagos Island hopping
Highlights of the Galapagos, discover the main Islands
Galapagos adventure holiday
An active Galapagos Islands adventure holiday
Galapagos holiday cruise options
Excellent selection of small and midsize Galapagos cruises
Galapagos adventure holiday
Unique Wildlife, Snorkeling, Hiking, Cycling, Kayaking
Ecuador highlands tour & Galapagos cruise
Experience Ecuador's stunning highlands and the Galapagos
Galapagos cruise plus Ecuador and Peru
Combine two truly outstanding places in South America
Peru and Galapagos active holiday
Private Inca Trail away from crowds & small boat cruise.
Peru and Galapagos holiday
An inspirational tour combining Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos
Galapagos wildlife cruise
Follow in Darwin's footsteps and meet the inhabitants of the Galapagos islands
Galapagos and Inca Trail tour
Unique adventure of ancient sights & breathtaking beauty
Machu Picchu, Amazon & Galapagos holiday
Escorted group tour to Peru and the Galapagos Islands
Galapagos and Ecuador small group holiday
Natural wonders & amazing culture in Ecuador & the Galapagos
Galapagos cruise
Explore the remote, exotic and wildlife-filled Galapagos islands
Galapagos luxury cruise
Cruise the Galapagos on a vessel custom made for the islands
Galapagos family holiday, hotel based
Fantastic Galapagos Islands Family Adventure Holiday
GALÁPAGOS REPTILES
Giant tortoises
“Seeing turtle hatchlings make their way to the ocean for the very first time and learning about giant tortoises and seeing them in the wild are just a couple of my most memorable experiences with reptiles on the Galápagos.”
Marine iguanas
As the only lizards that have adapted to swimming, diving and foraging in the sea, marine iguanas are a big deal on the Galápagos. Although they can be found hanging out around the rocks and beaches of most islands, there are six separate sub-species that can be attributed to specific islands. Colour and size is what differentiates one colony from the next, with the largest to be found on Isabela and Fernandina, and the most colourful favouring Floreana and Española. Although slightly gawky on dry land, marine iguanas are excellent underwater with strong claws enabling them to hold on tightly to underwater rocks so as to eat algae even in strong swells. Due to their saltwater diet, the marine iguana expels excess salt crystals through its nose once back on dry land. Snotty sneezes are quite a sight for the uninitiated.Land iguanas
Believed to have first arrived on the archipelago on floating vegetation, land iguanas are almost as iconic to the Galápagos as giant tortoises. Over the next 10 million years islands emerged and submerged and, in turn, iguana species evolved, with one pink and two types of yellow iguana, all herbivores, living on land. Land iguanas can grow to about a metre in length and weigh up to 13kg; their extremely sharp claws are used to gain a good grip on rocks. Pink iguanas are rare and only known to inhabit the volcanic slopes to the north of Isabela Island. Santa Fe’s endemic land iguana is slightly paler than the darker yellow Galápagos land iguana. Fernandina, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, South Plaza, Baltra and North Seymour islands are where you’ll find the majority of land iguanas sunning themselves in the dry lowland areas.Lava lizards
Lava lizards in the Galápagos have split into seven sub-species with variations in colour, including between males and females, depending which island they inhabit. Darker lizards tend to live on darker landscapes and are usually male; females are light yellow and green with red cheeks and chest. They’re relatively small – adult males grow to about six inches – and females are even smaller. When threatened they can change colour and allow their tail to detach – a new one grows back soon after. Lava lizards can be found on most Galápagos Islands and the best time to see them is in the warmer months during courtship. Males become very territorial and often begin a ‘push-up’ routine to display their strength to females and ward off other males.Our top Galapagos wildlife Holiday
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
Daily departures throughout the year.
GALÁPAGOS MARINE ANIMALS
Green turtles
Snorkelling in Galápagos
Other marine creatures to keep your snorkel mask clean for are rays, manta rays especially. Mantas are the largest species of ray in the Galápagos with an unnerving flipper – although it’s more like a wing – span stretching up to four metres across. Water around South Plaza Island and Rábida Island are well known for manta rays but chance encounters can occur pretty much anywhere. Spotted eagle rays are also an amazing animal to observe. They are effortlessly graceful and exhibit beautiful dappled skin. Black Turtle Cove and other spots close to Santa Cruz are well known hangouts for spotted eagle rays. Golden rays can also be observed around Black Turtle Cove; their distinctive tail and gold coloured skin are stunning, despite their relatively small size.Andrés Salazar from our supplier Rebecca Adventure Travel:
"Getting up close to Galápagos shark as you snorkel in the pristine waters, encountering the renowned whale shark as you dive in Darwin or Wolf Islands, catching a glimpse of a penguin torpedoing through the ocean right next to you or just spotting dolphins as they jet by your cruise ship or speedboat – these are moments to cherish on a trip to the islands.”
GALÁPAGOS BIRDS
“Being able to spot and differentiate the various finch species and understanding where Darwin got his idea for his renowned theory of evolution is an incredibly worthwhile thing to do whilst visiting the Galápagos.”