Things to do in Galapagos Islands
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Galapagos Islands
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best overall for first timers. Albatross back, water still warm, seas kind, peak crowds not yet arrived.
Warm wet season, calmest seas, turtles and marine iguanas nesting, highlands lush and green.
Best for divers and marine life. Whale sharks peak, cooler water and choppier seas.
Quietest and best value, with sea lion pups, cold water and real deals in low demand.
Shoulder months. June brings whales and garúa, November warms with good value nurseries.
What's on
- Waved albatross return to Española late March to April
Albatross return to nest on Española, present until December departure.
- Green sea turtle nesting January to May
Turtles nest in the warm season, with hatchlings from April.
- Whale shark season at Darwin and Wolf June to November, peak July to October
The peak big animal dive season on liveaboards only.
- Sea lion pupping peak September to October
Pups in nurseries, with protective bulls. Give them wide space.
- Carnival February
A demand spike in the warmest water month, noted in the month by month line.
Best things to do in Galapagos Islands
El Chato Reserve
Wild giant tortoises graze and soak in highland pasture, the best land tortoise encounter on Santa Cruz.
Los Gemelos
Twin collapsed craters in Scalesia forest on the same highland road as the tortoise reserves.
Tortuga Bay
A long white surf beach leads to calm Playa Mansa, where you can swim and snorkel with reef sharks.
Charles Darwin Research Station
The breeding centre explains Galapagos conservation, with baby tortoises by island and land iguanas.
North Seymour Island
A flat loop delivers boobies, frigatebirds and land iguanas right on the trail, plus snorkelling.
Bartolomé Island
The summit boardwalk gives the classic Pinnacle Rock view, then snorkelling with penguins below.
Las Grietas
A clear brackish fissure in lava rock across Academy Bay, best at opening before crowds build.
Santa Cruz Fish Market
Fishermen unload while pelicans and sea lions queue for scraps, free theatre on the malecón.
Where to stay in Galapagos Islands
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz
first trip, all-round base
The largest town, most day tours, restaurants and ferries, and Baltra airport access.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal
Kicker Rock and Española focus, easiest arrival
Airport in town, a laid back malecón and sea lions on Playa Mann, with open jaw flights.
Puerto Villamil, Isabela
second base, snorkellers and couples
The quietest and wildest base, with lagoons behind town and the best excursions to crowds ratio.
Puerto Velasco Ibarra, Floreana
connoisseur overnight, silence
One village, no ATM, black sand and Post Office Bay without a day group.
Think twice about
- Baltra and Santa Cruz highlands as a touring base
Superb resort stays add a 25 to 40 minute taxi to every boat and dinner unless you are buying the resort itself.
- Puerto Ayora waterfront strip, Av. Charles Darwin
Lively until late if you are noise sensitive. Two streets back on Binford is quieter and cheaper.
- Isabela as the sole base for a first visit under 8 days
Logistics not safety. One weather cancelled ferry can strand a tight itinerary.
Best restaurants in Galapagos Islands
Finch Bay Restaurant
The Ayora splurge that earns it, tasting style menus on local catch by the pool and beach.
The Point
Waterfront fine dining on Punta Estrada, seafood led fusion away from the generic grills.
Eloise Restaurante
A small pier restaurant with marine life under the deck and consistently glowing recent reviews.
Isla Grill
The Ayora institution for grilled seafood and meats at mid prices, lively and reliable for groups.
Midori Sushi & Pub
Genuinely good sushi where the fish was swimming that morning, a needed change of pace dinner.
Los Kioskos
Kiosk street at night grills the day catch in the road at a third of waterfront prices.
Galapagos Deli
Breakfasts, sandwiches and ice cream on Tomás de Berlanga, a useful non waterfront stop.
Darwin's Secret
The Indigo fusion dining room, one of the two upscale tables for a best or last night.
Best coffee in Galapagos Islands
1835 Coffee Lab
Single origin Galapagos coffee, the souvenir that is actually worth carrying home.
El Cafetal
Coffee with an ocean view in Villamil, using excellent fairly priced Galapagos beans.
Outdoor things to do in Galapagos Islands
Los Túneles
Lava tubes form calm clear pools with seahorses, sharks, turtles and penguins, the best snorkel tour.
Kicker Rock
Twin volcanic cones with a drift channel for sharks, turtles and rays, for strong swimmers only.
Pinzón Island
Clear water snorkelling with sharks, turtles and playful sea lions on a day boat from Ayora.
Santa Fe Island
A sea lion bay swim and clear snorkelling on one of the top Santa Cruz day snorkels.
Gordon Rocks
A flooded crater with currents and schools of hammerheads, for advanced divers only.
Darwin and Wolf Islands
Dive liveaboard only big animal diving, with whale sharks in season and hammerhead walls.
Punta Pitt
A San Cristóbal dive and landing site paired with Kicker Rock for experienced local diving.
Cousins Rock
Black coral terraces, seahorses and reef sharks in gentler conditions for intermediate divers.
Best hotels in Galapagos Islands
Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel
Quiet across Academy Bay by water taxi, with a beach in front and Ayora access without the noise.
Pikaia Lodge
A luxury lodge on a tortoise reserve at altitude, sold as an all inclusive programme with its own yacht.
Montemar Eco Luxury Villas
Owner run eco villas in the highlands, the connoisseur luxury pick for space and quiet.
Galapagos Safari Camp
Luxury tents in highland peace, trading town convenience for space, tortoises and quiet.
Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio by Hilton
A large highland estate with villas and lava tube dining, best chosen as a resort stay.
Ikala Galapagos Hotel
A reliable mid upscale in town hotel on the Darwin avenue side for walk everywhere convenience.
Hotel Solymar
A reliable waterfront mid range hotel in town for walk everywhere convenience in Ayora.
Blu Galapagos
A boutique design hotel with a rooftop, in the reliable mid upscale in town tier.
Is Galapagos Islands expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $150 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $270 a person |
| Splurge | $800 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- North Seymour Island: weeks ahead
- Bartolomé Island: weeks ahead
- Española Island: weeks ahead
- Post Office Bay: weeks ahead
- Los Túneles: weeks ahead
- Kicker Rock: weeks ahead
- Pinzón Island: weeks ahead
- Santa Fe Island: weeks ahead
- Good small cruises book 6 to 12 months ahead for June to August and late December.
- Dive liveaboards for whale shark season book 9 to 18 months ahead.
- Bartolomé, North Seymour, Española, Kicker Rock and Los Túneles book weeks ahead in peak season.
Is Galapagos Islands safe?
- Stay 2 metres from wildlife, stay on marked trails, no food at visitor sites and no flash photography.
- Do not drink tap water on any island. Use hotel filtered refill stations and a reusable bottle.
- Sun, surf currents and seasickness are the real risks. Dive insurance with evacuation cover is essential for divers.
Galapagos Islands travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Waterfront restaurants on Av. Charles Darwin for every meal, with view pricing and similar menus.
- The Darwin Station as a standalone headline instead of the wild highland tortoises.
- Day tripping to Isabela from Santa Cruz, and cheap last minute cruises bought sight unseen from home.
Getting around Galapagos Islands: public transport and more
- Walk in towns. White pickup taxis are 1 to 2 dollars in town, with fixed fares agreed before highland trips.
- Inter island speedboats take 2 to 2.5 hours via Santa Cruz. There is no direct Isabela to San Cristóbal ferry.
- Rental bikes cost 15 to 20 dollars a day on Santa Cruz and Isabela.
Who Galapagos Islands suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Galapagos Islands your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App Store