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Travelling in the Galapagos Islands with kids

Are the Galápagos Islands suitable for families? With fearless, amazing wildlife all around and a host of giddily exciting activities, we’d say definitely. In fact it’s hardly surprising that this island paradise makes kids of us all. We explain what to expect from travelling in the Galápagos with kids, with some useful Galápagos family travel tips and advice from our expert partners too.

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Travelling in the Galápagos with kids

Travelling in the Galápagos with kids is easy, relaxed and full of wonder. There is incredible, fearless wildlife (some, like the sea lions, are notoriously playful too), a wealth of exhilarating activities to enjoy, picturesque beaches and island settings, and always opportunities for downtime when you need it.

Unlike game drives or jungles, where animals are elusive and must be watched in silence, the Galápagos is overflowing with wildlife – and none of it is dangerous.

The Galápagos Islands can at times feel like a children’s storybook come to life: a place of doe-eyed baby sea lions, tortoises as big as trikes, salt-snorting marine iguanas and comically dancing birds – none of which show the slightest fear of humans.

When travelling as a family in the Galápagos, aim for trips designed with kids in mind. Guides tailor their talks for younger audiences, and parents needn’t worry about disturbing child-free passengers with tantrums or slower-paced hikes. There are plenty of family-friendly cruise options, but if you’re planning to travel in the Galápagos Islands with kids, we’d recommend a land-based tour to really give them space and time. You’ll have days off to spend on the beach, and no early departures or late nights to worry about either.

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Activities for families in Galápagos

See wildlife wonders – easily

It’s a given that the wildlife of the Galápagos is incredible, and that if you’re visiting the islands, it’s the animals of land, sea and air that attracted you. But what may surprise you is just how accessible the wildlife is here, and how utterly unafraid it is of humans. Help keep it that way by following the national park’s rules around interaction at all times and ensuring your kids to do. You’ll see pelicans poised to pounce at the fish market, giant tortoises lumbering along, munching placidly on mouthfuls of grass, manta rays floating gracefully past your snorkel mask, and marine iguanas dozing on warm rocks right in front of you. It’s like being in a wildlife documentary, with all the exciting bits spliced together.

Snorkel with amazing marine life

If there’s one essential when in the Galápagos Islands (beyond eco-friendly sun cream) it’s your snorkel and mask – these are provided by our partners – because there’s so much exciting stuff going on beneath the surface. Less confident swimmers have nothing to worry about, with buoyancy aids supplied and guides with you at all times.

Los Tuneles, an hour’s boat ride from Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island, is one of the best places for snorkelling in Galápagos. The marine life that will be swimming all around you, and occasionally right up to you, is spectacular. Penguins, turtles, sea lions, manta rays and (harmless) sharks – they’re all right here.

“Snorkelling with sea lions, most kids start off a little hesitant but our guides are in the water with them and they can feel comfortable,” says Morag Prosser from our partner ROW Adventures. “By the end of the day, it’s usually the parents who are more nervous about the sharks or sea lions, and the kids are having a blast!”

Trek volcanoes & lava fields

The Galápagos Islands were formed by volcanic activity, and if you have kids taking their first steps into geography at school you’ll know exactly how much fascination volcanoes hold for them. Here, you can trek to the summit of the vast Sierra Negra and peer down into the crater, or walk across jagged lava fields to get an idea of the immense power that has shaped the archipelago for centuries.

Kayak as a team

Kids will love kayaking in the Galápagos Islands – either along the shore or out in the open ocean. Two-seater kayaks are available, so parents can join younger children in the water, while it’s not unusual for curious sea lions, turtles, marine iguanas and penguins to dive underneath or swim alongside you. The water is so clear they can be easily seen. November-May is the ideal time for kayaking in the Galápagos, when the water is calm and warm.

Explore the beaches

Give the kids a chance to stretch their legs and run around at one of the Galápagos’ many glorious beaches. Black sand, white sand, a backdrop of mangroves or volcanic rocks – they all offer the chance to both relax and explore. Staying at Puerto Ayora gives access to some excellent little bays which will be all yours (except for sea lions!) once the cruise ships leave town, but others are reached along forest trails or by hiking through atmospheric mangroves. Swim kits are a must.

Make time for relaxation

You probably don’t want it to be all Galápago-go-go with family holidays. You’ll find that most kid-friendly itineraries in the islands set aside time now and again to unwind in a way that suits your family best. That could be hiring bikes for an afternoon, a game of volleyball on the beach, reading books in a hammock or a sunset swim. You won’t want to miss a thing while in the Galápagos, but those little moments of doing very little can be just as essential to keep everyone enthusiastic.

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What does family travel in the Galápagos involve?

There tends to be no minimum age for travelling with kids in the Galápagos – you know your children, and what they’re capable of, the best. But to get the most from the experience, five and upwards is probably best. If they’re confident in the water too, all the better, though there’s still plenty of wildlife to see on land. You should also keep in mind that younger children have a tendency to (completely innocently) chase after animals, which is acceptable with the family cat but less so with an endangered penguin. Joining a small group is ideal for older kids aged 10 and above, while if your children are younger you might want to consider a tailor made tour so that the itinerary can be adjusted to take into account their ages, energy levels and abilities.

Check what’s included in your itinerary – some tours might set aside free days on islands where you can do your own thing with the (recommended) option to pre-book a private tour for a particular place or activity.

Are cruises or land-based tours best for kids in the Galápagos?

While there are certainly family-friendly cruises available, we’d suggest that the best option for family travel in the Galápagos is a land-based tour based in hotels on a couple of islands instead. Cruise passengers have to stick to strict itineraries with early starts, prompt departures and late nights – all while cooped up in a cabin. With growing accommodation options on the islands – both in the towns and at inland and coastal campsites – land-based tours can give more flexibility for family travel in the Galápagos Islands.

Our partners use a succession of locally owned hotels that welcome families with open arms. This also tends to be a far less expensive option than cruising, which with limited space and high demand can be a pricey affair.

Children on land tours have more time to run around and soak up the atmosphere, bedtime is when you want, and you won’t need to worry about bothering other passengers. But your experiences certainly aren’t limited – you’ll head out for day trips by speedy boats that can get to different islands much faster than yachts or cruise vessels.

“Our family tours are only open to family groups – we don’t do couples or singles,” says Morag. “That’s so that if you have a group with seven- to 10-year-olds in, we can run the tour at a pace that’s suitable for them. The kids have other kids to interact and learn with, and you don’t have single adults chomping at the bit to move faster, and feel like the kids are holding them back so that their parents are getting uncomfortable.”