Things to do & places to visit in Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Abundant wildlife above and below the waves draws eco-tourists to Ecuador's Galapagos. Get up close on a stroll or in a Zodiac boat. Snorkel and dive with denizens of the deep, from sea lions to sea turtles at Santiago's Cousin's Rock. Hike by finches, flamingos and iguanas along the Darwin Trail. Admire Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela. As visitor numbers are limited within the islands' National Park, book your boat tour through a tour operator. Visit January through April for the best snorkeling.

Galapagos Islands #2 destination in Ecuador 2023. The average rating score is 4.41 based on 26.6k traveler reviews, of 118 attractions. Timezone: Pacific/Galapagos, current date and time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 11:54.

Top things to do (24)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Los Tuneles (1.399 reviews)
- Exhilarating and Exciting
Scuba & Snorkelling • Geologic Formations

Brilliant. Organised through the dive/scuba trip centre on Avenil Antoni Gil in Puerto Villamil (in last row of shops on left coming out of town and heading for Wall of Tears). Great crew on the boat, good well looked after equipment on board, knowledgeable bilingual guide who obviously knew the area and best places to anchor. One of the best trips of this sort I've been on anywhere. Abundance of wildlife and close up encounters. Excellent. See more..
5.0 Metropolitan Touring (323 reviews)
- Unbelievable experience
Islands

My visit of North Seymour Island was one of the highlights of Galapagos tour. Not cheap, 180$, but worth of it. After 35 minutes drive to the port and about 75 minutes on the boat we reach the Island and started guided tour on the trail around and through out the island with close encounter with nestling birds or iguanas and they seemed not concerned about us. They did not pay attention. We even saw male blue footed boobies dancing to draw attention of females. Male frigates inflated their neck pouch just in front of us. There were a lot of sea lions lazying on the rocks. See more..
5.0 Isabela Island (92 reviews)
- No where else like it on earth!
Spent More than 3 hours Islands

We came here through Lindblad Expeditions and it was an incredible experience! To see the sea lions on the beach, the unique birds in the trees and in the air, and the land and sea iguanas, really makes you realize that this is one of the few places that man has not destroyed. These animals rule this place and WE are the visitors. I'm glad the islands are a national park and there are limits as to how many people can visit in a day and how long they can stay. Nothing in my life compared to this experience, and I have traveled the world! See more..
5.0 Darwin Bay (62 reviews)
- Amazing
Bodies of Water

Teeming with wildlife, this scenic bay is named for Charles Darwin, the famous scientist and naturalist who created the Origin of Species theory. See more..
4.5 Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay (3.440 reviews)
- Incredible beach
Friday: 6:00 AM - 5:30 PM Beaches

Absolutely stunning beach. The sand is fine and white, the water color is incredible and the iguanas were not scared and posing for our pics. The bay right after was great to swim and refresh but the water is a little mirky. Worth the 35 min walk from the registration point so 40 from downtown. Put good shoes on I went with my flipflops and my feet hurt after . Also make sure to take plenty of water, I shared one with my daughter and it was barely enough in the hot sun of January. See more..
4.5 Las Grietas (2.499 reviews)
- Great experience
Geologic Formations

A short walk from Playa de Alemanas. Thought that it was excessive to be charged $10 each for the guide to walk you 500m to the lagoon and back. However the lagoon is fantastic for snorkelling , very safe and great sea life. Would recommend getting arriving early as I’m sure it would get very busy and over populated in the mid / high seasons . No storage areas or refreshment facilities / toilets so just take just a towel and cold refreshments. A very recommended visit. See more..
4.5 Reserva El Chato (1.974 reviews) from $8.75
- Visited El Chato after arriving on the island
Nature & Wildlife Areas

We landed on Baltra, took the bus, then the ferry, and then a taxi (which had been previously arranged through our AirBnB) to El Chato. We paid the entrance fee and was offered a naturalist guide to lead us on a tour around the property. The guide works for tips and is optional. We went ahead and accepted the guide and I am glad we did. What would have been a pretty short trip around the property looking at awesome giant tortoises, turned into an hour long nature presentation with someone who knows a lot about the flora and fauna of the Galapagos and spoke perfect English! The guide also led us through the lava tunnel and explained how the tunnel was created. I felt it was worth giving the guide $10 per person. This is what other guides (who were not optional) charged and our guy did as good as job as they did. See more..
4.5 Kicker Rock (1.147 reviews)
- Hammerheads!
Friday: Points of Interest & Landmarks

We booked through Blue Evolution, but I think a number of the operators tend to consolidate groups to be more efficient, so the boat was actually a SharkSky boat. Saw lots of sea life, including turtles, many different kinds of fish, and a school of about 15 hammerhead sharks. Did 2 snorkels. The first was supposed to be 25 minutes, but I think our guide lost track of time and we were in the water for about 40 minutes, and while we saw a lot in the first snorkel, we didn't see sharks, other than one baby shark. With spring wetsuits, it was comfortable for about the first 30 minutes, but almost everyone was shivering at the end. Got out and warmed up a little with some tea, then went back in for 10 minutes and was excited to see a school of about 15 hammerhead sharks below us See more..
4.5 Concha de Perla (957 reviews)
- Easy adventure you can do on your own
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Better first thing in the morning. You do not need a guide or tour. Rent snorkel gear for the day $5.00 and head there on a 20 minute walk. Saw one white tip shark and an eagle ray. Many smaller fish like parrot and puffers. While there, on the platform, there are many sea lions and iguanas sleeping. Literally having to step over there. See more..
4.5 Santa Cruz Fish Market (888 reviews)
- Watch Galapagan daily life unfold
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

Walk by at different times of the day. We thought this was a wonderful chance to see the local fishermen and the local women going about their daily lives. Bringing in the catch , gutting and filleting fish,. selling small or large pieces and weighing lobsters and fish. Of course the chance of a meal attracts pelicans, frigate birds and sea lions. Dont miss this free attraction. See more..
4.5 Las Tintoreras (885 reviews)
- Up Close and Personal with some cool creatures
Islands

Great walk around the lava rocks. See huge groups of marine iguanas and sally light-foot crabs. Saw some Galapagos penguins and white-tip sharks in the inlet and surrounding waters. The snorkeling was great too, swimming over all those sleeping sharks below is quite the rush, and we were lucky to have some playful sea lions in the water with us. Also saw turtles, stingrays, and starfish. Amazing experience! See more..
4.5 El Garrapatero (701 reviews)
- Great time on a beautiful beach
Beaches • Parks

We had a nice hike to this beautiful beach. Loved being able to see the Marine Iguanas on the beach and one poor one chased into the water. Saw some really fun beach art and had a great time exploring and in the water swimming. It was not overly crowded and, except for a couple of really rowdy kids, very peaceful. The winding trail to the beach was amazing and we caught sight of birds we'd only thought about, and on the way back even got a close-up view of a couple of Blue-footed Boobies. Was a wonderful afternoon at a place that is well worth hiking to. Again, I'm trying to catch up on my reviews from 12/19 See more..
4.5 La Loberia (507 reviews)
- Awesome snorkeling with many sea lions and sea turtles
Beaches

Awesome snorkeling with many sea lions, sea turtles and fish. We came early in the day at low tide, so less people and more to see. Water shoes help over rocks for access. Can probably walk from town, or take a taxi for the short ride to the parking lot. See more..
4.5 Centro de Crianza Arnaldo Tupiza (490 reviews)
- A small sanctuary doing a great job.
Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Zoos

It’s a $10 entrance but worth it as they need the money to keep going. A small but brilliant sanctuary where they have already repatriated 2000+ tortoises! Lots of babies to see and stories about the older ones saved from volcano eruptions etc. chatted to volunteers from usa/ italy doing a few weeks there to help out. They used volunteer.com. A worthwhile cause. Go see the flamingoes round the corner afterwards. See more..
4.5 Sierra Negra (431 reviews)
- Enjoyable trek
Volcanos

In whole an enjoyable active day with beautiful views at the top and an interesting walk through old lava flows. After leaving the town we had an approximately 30minute mini bus ride out to the base of the volcano. The first (and last on the way back) 20 minutes of the walk are fairly wet and uphill so we recommend to bring a rain jacket and wear walking boots if you have them. After that it gets warm we were happy we wore shorts otherwise it could get too hot. After walking on the flat around the top of Sierra Negra you begin walking down hill towards the lava flow. This part of the trek was really fascinating and fun however the walk back up to the top from here is steep and some people struggled. We began the tour at 8 in town and were back by 2pm, so probably not the tour if you have the afternoon boat to Santa cruiz. Overall a very enjoyable trek however was a proper trek and not just a leisurely stroll. May be difficult for young children or anyone with dodgy knees/hips. See more..
4.5 Cerro Tijeretas (360 reviews)
- Fabulous hike and snorkel spot. Self guided
National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas

This is such a fabulous hike. You enter from the research center and walk the path. Passing amazing flora and fauna. It gets really hot, wear a hat, dab on sunscreen , i got completely burnt. There is no shade. The cove is amazing. Water always cold around here in the pacific. Brace yourself. Bring snorkeling gear. We saw rays, turtles, fish and boulders. See more..
4.5 Puerto Chino Beach (333 reviews)
- Biking to Puerto Chino
Beaches

My husband and I are avid mountain bikers, so we decided to go there biking. It's a tough ride because you have to climb about 15 kms from 0 (Puerto Baquerizo Moreno) to 700 meters (El Junco) and then go back to the 0m (Puerto Chino). On the way there you will find a couple of towns where you can stop for food or water, El Junco (the only fresh water lagoon in Galapagos) and La Galapaguera (a breeding spot for Galapagos tortoises). The ride is worth the effort. Try to start very early in the morning so the sun doesn't get you on the climb. The beach is really nice, specially if you like to surf. There are no restaurants close by so be sure to take enough food and water with you and also make sure your taxi waits for you to return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. See more..
4.5 Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado (261 reviews)
- Great place to see Galapagos Giant Tortoises
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

We really enjoyed our tour of the San Cristobal Highlands that we booked through Galapagos a la Carte (thanks again Byron!) We toured the breeding center with our naturalist guide, Karen, who was very knowledgeable. The grounds were well kept and quite natural. There were lots of adult giant tortoises to be seen roaming around and many young ones at different ages from 0-6 years old. It was a very informative tour. See more..
4.5 Playa Mann (234 reviews)
- Great time on town beach
Beaches

One of my favorite beach even it is not spectacular beach as the others. The reason is that early morning, while being alone on the beach and in the sea I got chance to swim with juvenile sea lions who came to me to play with me . The day before they came to try me shoes. Unforgettable experience. The beach very clean, with plenty of shade, with showers, toilets and restaurant.. Also some street-food stalls nearby, Sea water clear, on low tide be aware of some stones or rocks. Apart from sea lions plenty of crabs, iguanas and fishes can be spotted here. It is easy – minutes walk from down town. See more..
4.5 Rancho Primicias (228 reviews)
- Knowledgeable guides
Ranches

We visited here while staying in Puerto Ayora. It was an easy taxi ride and since we were early (it opens at 9) our driver dropped us at the lava tunnel first. That is well worth visiting but be aware that there is one really low area to duck under so might be difficult if you find it hard to get down really low. The ranch was easy to navigate and was dry when we visited so no need for boots. Our guide was welcoming and had lots of information to share. There were lots of large male and smaller females roaming and it was easy to approach slowly for some great shots. Followed our visit with a trip to the Charles Darwin centre but feel that we learned more from our guide at Rancho Promicias. The whole trip took around 3 hours including the lava tunnel and taxi ride. See more..
4.5 My Galápagos Tour (226 reviews)
- The iconic postcard view of Galapagos
Islands

This is probably the most popular day tour from Santa Cruz. You first take a 45 min bus from Puerto Ayora to Ithabaca Canal, then followed by a 2h+ navigation. Along the way, you may want to pray for a fantastic clear skies at Bartolome. Thankfully that was the case for me. Otherwise I would be grouchy. It was the absolute perfect weather. The views are stunning. This day trip is not wildlife focused unlike others. But we still saw penguins, turtles, and sea lions. The afternoon of the day trip is usually spent snorkeling at Sullivan Bay or Chinese Hat, depending on your itinerary. See more..
4.5 Bar de Beto (156 reviews)
- Great bar to watch the subset and meet other travelers
Friday: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM Spent 2-3 hours Bars & Clubs

We are the first beach bar of Isabela Island, established in 2001. Since then we have been working with great vibes connecting great people from all over the world. Our bar is named after the owner "Beto" who created the concept of Bar de Beto. Come see our famous bottle tree that is made of stories from all around the world and maybe add your own story to it! Fridays and Saturdays this is where the party happens in Isabela Island! We also care about the environment which is why our tables are made from recycled wood, we only use paper straws, and we refill your water bottles at Bar de Beto! - Great atmosphere, Nice people, Good Music, Endemic Drinks See more..
4.5 Santa Cruz Island (141 reviews)
- Nice, Modest Nightlife
Spent More than 3 hours Islands

Santa Cruz is the most lively island of the three I visited (the others being San Cristóbal and Isabela Island). This isn't the one to visit if you solely come for exotic animals, though. Sure, there are sealions, crabs and big turtles (the latter at a 30 minute drive from Puerto Ayora), but I mostly liked it for its modest nightlife. See more..
4.5 Cerro Brujo (109 reviews)
- One of the top beaches in the world
Beaches

Cerro Brujo has everything: Gorgeous white sand, tidal pools with crabs and fish, sea lions everywhere, picturesque volcanic rock formations, cliffs with boobies and seacaves. It is spetacular. See more..
4.5 Malecon de Puerto Ayora (108 reviews)
- Full of animals
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Piers & Boardwalks

The road along the beach is filled with restaurants and agencies. The piers are the really interesting part. It is filled with sea lions lounging on the benches, iguanas lazing everywhere, pelicans and frigate birds fighting over scraps. In the water, you often see sharks, rays, sea turtles and sea lions. A cool place to wander. See more..
4.5 Parque Nacional Galapagos (106 reviews)
- Reina Silvia 5 star experience
National Parks

My boyfriend and I booked a last minute cruise on Reina Silvia and it was the highlight of our 6 months in South America. We booked the boat in Quito through Royal Galapagos and Martina was our agent. The company is very professional as is Martina who we stayed in contact with before during and after our trip. We had the unfortunate experience of our flight being delayed and she made sure we caught up with the tour with minimal stress. Now to Reina Silvia. The crew, cabin, food and itinerary were all amazing!! We did the eastern islands 8 day tour and saw every single animal on the list. We loved every minute of our stay on the boat. We spent a few days on isabela and Santa Cruz after the cruise and it is definitely worth the extra spend to do a cruise. We actually met people who were spending more on land per day than our cruise was at last minute prices. Can't recommend the islands, boat, company or Martina enough!!! See more..
4.5 Samay Latin Art (99 reviews)
- Made my day!
Friday: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Art Galleries

New name, same location, same great attention to the discerning client. Jewelry & Latin American art, mostly Ecuadorian artists and artists from the Galapagos. At the Gallery you will find sculptures and paintings, ceramics and tagua carvings, hats, bags and the most beautiful tapestries. See more..
4.5 Santa Fe Island (93 reviews)
- Amazingly Cordial Sea Lions
Spent 2-3 hours Islands • Nature & Wildlife Areas

A great island to interact with sea lions on the beach. You are not permitted to touch them or approach them closer than six feet, but sit calmly and watch how closely they approach you! It is an incredible interactive experience. The adult sea lions may give you nothing more than a casual glance and you want to keep a distance from territorial bulls, but the juveniles and pups will delight in your presence and welcome you with open flippers. You too will delight as they gambol toward you as fast as there undulating bodies permit. We also spotted a hammerhead shark hunting in the bay fronted by the sea lion beach. Snorkeling is so so. See more..
4.5 Isabela Island Wetlands Complex (90 reviews)
- Wander, walk, never hurry was my mantra on Isabela!
Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Scenic Drives

Wander, walk, never hurry was my mantra on Isabela! The wetlands are one of the places to seek out wildlife. Predominantly iguanas with a few flamingos mixed in to keep it interesting. Best to walk it in the morning and return in the late afternoon. Between is usually too hot. See more..
4.5 Isla Lobos (86 reviews)
- A great way to start your trip!
Islands

This was the first place I toured while in the Galapagos. This was a great way to start after two days of travel. The hike is easy (though uneven in many spots) and there is a large variety of wildlife. The island isn't very large, so most tours have you hop into the water at the far end of the island and then snorkel back. There was some really cool marine life to see there, and there were some boobies diving for fish near us. See more..