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Things to do in the Galapagos Islands

There are many thrilling things to do in the Galapágos. Snorkelling and swimming with sea lions or turtles; sea kayaking into remote spots, trekking up volcanoes or meeting island communities with extraordinary heritage and stories to tell. The Galapágos Islands is the sort of place where every day brings memorable new experiences and activities.

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Things to do in the Galapagos

The wildlife is always the main event, but as you’ll see from our checklist of the best things to do in the Galápagos Islands, there are many different ways to see and learn about it.

The wildlife naturally gets most of the attention, but in fact there are many exciting things to in the Galápagos. Many activities allow you to get different perspectives on the birds, reptiles and marine creatures here, as well as the history and culture of the islands’ human population. From snorkelling with sea lions and guided nature hikes across volcanic lava fields to exploring sea caves where pirates hid out and admiring the elaborate mating dances of blue-footed boobies, our guide to the best things to do in the Galápagos Islands will make sure that you’re never short of inspiration.

Snorkel Galápagos Marine Reserve

The volcanic islands of the Galapágos are only one part of the story – what inhabits the waters of the surrounding marine reserve is a very different one. Marine iguanas are on the prowl, Galápagos penguins dive in, sea lion pups will swim curiously right up to you, and hammerhead and white-tipped sharks lurk in the depths. The lava tunnels off Isabela Island teem with astonishing marine life and are among the best places for snorkelling in the Galápagos Islands.

Go scuba diving with pros

Not everyone is content simply skimming the surface of the water with a snorkel and mask. If you want to stay under for longer in the Galápagos Islands, strap on a tank. Galápagos diving holidays are for the PADI-qualified and take you from San Cristobal and the amazing Kicker Rock to the many dive sites off Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz. Local dive guides are really experienced and have all the necessary know-how wherever you explore.

Stroll with giant tortoises

Giant tortoises are among the best-known residents of the Galápagos. They can live to around 150 and grow huge, chowing down on up to 36kg of leaves and grass a day. In the highlands of Santa Cruz, tours of private farms let you see the tortoises ambling peacefully around their natural habitat – and you can take a (very slow) stroll alongside them. There are some 1,000 tortoises around this area, happily lazing in mud, mooching under hedgerows or nibbling on the vegetation.

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Meet Galápagos locals (past & present)

Some of the first permanent settlers in the Galápagos lived on Floreana. You’ll hear some entertaining stories about slightly eccentric Germans and Austrians, and the baroness who had two lovers, one of whom was murdered and the other who disappeared onto a boat. The wildlife in the Galápagos is naturally the focus, but there’s definitely some interesting culture here too. On Santa Cruz, you can take a tour of a working locally run sugar cane farm to see how it’s processed for another side to life in the islands.

Get a natural history lesson at the Charles Darwin Research Centre

We always advise travellers to visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre on Santa Cruz at the start of their trip, as it’s a little dry and so can come as an anti-climax later on. But that’s not to say that this isn’t an essential visit. The centre, staffed mostly by Ecuadorean nationals, offers insights into ongoing research projects, collections of natural history specimens, and information on plans for the islands’ continuing sustainable development. Most trips include a stop here.

Go bird watching

The potential for bird watching in the Galápagos is immense. Among the islands’ most famous inhabitants are the ungainly blue-footed boobies – admire their delightful courtship rituals between June and August on North Seymour. There are 14 species of Galápagos finches, which played a key role in Darwin’s theories around evolution. Cute Galápagos penguins can be seen on Isabela and Fernandina. And come between April and December to spot the huge Galápagos waved albatrosses as they breed on Espanola.

Hike lava fields & coastal routes

There are many trails criss-crossing the islands, clearly marked so that walkers can stick to them and avoid accidentally damaging the vegetation. You might hike to the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela, its crater 9km across, and continue on to the immense lava fields of Volcano Chico. And naturally, there are plenty of coastal routes too that afford some spectacular views.

Kayak around volcanic coasts & coves

Multi activity and adventure trips often feature kayaking around coastal bays and coves. It’s a great way to get closer to the marine wildlife in an unobtrusive manner, with zero engine noise to trouble the animals. Popular spots to paddle include Kicker Rock off San Cristobal and Divine Bay on Santa Cruz. October to May tends to be the ideal time for kayaking in the Galápagos, as the waters are calm and wonderfully clear.

Explore pirate caves on Floreana

The islands were a notorious haunt of pirates for centuries, including English pirates who would plunder Spanish galleons for their gold. Off Floreana Island, you can enter the caves where the pirates would hide out. In other areas of the Galápagos, you can see graffiti attributed to them and other visitors to the islands over the years.

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Visit the Tortoise Breeding Centre on Isabela

With Frank Sinatra on the stereo, mood lighting and champagne on ice in every pen, nothing is left to chance at the tortoise breeding centre on Isabela. The island has five native species of Galápagos giant tortoise, but all of them remain vulnerable to habitat damage. You can see the reptiles at different stages of their development, eggs incubating in a hatchery, and adults being monitored in corrals. Hatcheries are not ideal, but in the Galápagos this is seen as the right way to ensure that giant tortoises can continue to thrive in the wild.

Dive into vegan or vegetarian cuisine

Diving into the seafood cuisine is for many one of the biggest Galápagos attractions. But it’s not hard to stick to a vegan or vegetarian diet if that’s your preference, even on cruise ships, when an onboard kitchen team will take your preferences into account. Expect to encounter a lot of delicious fried plantains, papayas and guava.

Combine Galápagos with mainland Ecuador or Machu Picchu

The Galápagos Islands can be seamlessly combined with Machu Picchu, bringing together two of South America’s crown jewels. You can also combine the islands with a few days on mainland Ecuador – some activity holidays get you mountain biking down volcanoes, rafting white water and soaking tired muscles afterwards in natural hot springs.