Things to Do in the Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are wild, raw, and alive. Think fearless wildlife, lava-sculpted landscapes, and up-close encounters you won’t get anywhere else. That’s why they’re called the Enchanted Isles, and these are the best ways to experience them.
What Can You Do in the Galápagos Islands?
If you’re deciding what to do on the Galápagos Islands, you’ll find a mix of land, sea, and conservation-focused experiences. Most activities are designed to protect fragile ecosystems while allowing exceptional access to wildlife and scenery. Top ways to experience the islands include: - Wildlife watching on land and at sea - Snorkelling in the Galápagos Marine Reserve - Kayaking and paddleboarding in sheltered bays - Guided volcanic hikes and nature walks - Small-boat cruising - Visits to conservation and research centres Here are some of the things you can do in the Galápagos Islands with HX Expeditions.
Landings with expedition boats
On your Galápagos Islands vacation, you can enjoy exclusive shore landings aboard our expedition boats. Our small, agile boats can land at more rugged, isolated beaches meaning we can take our guests off the beaten track. From volcanic rocky shores to white sandy beaches, we’ll stop at a range of locations ready for the day’s adventure. With just one vessel permitted to dock at each location, you can enjoy a more intimate wildlife spotting experience. You’ll have the opportunity to see iconic species like giant tortoises and marine iguanas up close.
Our expedition boats are ideal for seeking out marine life, from dolphins and sharks to sea turtles and whales. And if you’d like to try something a little different, you can also hop aboard our glass-bottom boat to get underwater views of coral reefs and tropical fish without even getting wet.
Nature walks with our qualified wildlife guides
Our Expedition Team are specialists in Galápagos wildlife. With their experience and knowledge, they’ll lead you on fascinating nature walks and submerge you in the unique ecosystems of the islands. We always travel in small groups so we can accommodate multiple interests, needs and languages. With the help of your qualified guides, one day you could be meandering through the Palo Santo forests of North Seymour, smelling the sweet incense, and the next, you might be observing the Blue-footed Boobies of San Cristobal, or watching the sea lions of Mosquera Islet bask in the sun.
One of our favourite nature walks is through the lush highlands of Santa Cruz, where giant tortoises lumber around undisturbed. On a Galápagos Islands trip with Hurtigruten Expeditions, you’ll not only see these remarkable animals, you’ll learn about how you can help preserve their habitat and protect their species. You can even help collect important data and contribute to global research projects.
Kayaking and SUP boarding
No tour of the Galápagos Islands would be complete without some aquatic adventures. With Hurtigruten Expeditions, you can explore the protected Galápagos Marine Reserve and its array of volcanic islands by kayak or SUP board. The white sandy shores of Santa Fe are perfect for a relaxed kayaking trip. Also, while visiting Española, you can kayak around the stunning coral beach of Gardner Bay and across to Osborn Islet, while watching for sea lions, mockingbirds and finches.
SUP boarding is great fun too. If you’ve never tried it before, SUP boards are easy to master and manoeuvre, allowing you to explore every bay and inlet. And the calm, warm sea of the Galápagos is the perfect place to practice this new skill. Whenever you need a break, simply sit down and relax. All equipment is provided onboard, you just need to bring your sense of adventure.
While travelling around the Galápagos Islands, there’s no better way to see marine life than to get in the water. The tranquillity of the archipelago is perfect for snorkelling, whether you’re a beginner or experienced. We have all the gear you need, and our Expedition Team are ready to take you around some of the best snorkelling spots of the islands. Immersed in the warm, crystal-clear Galápagos seas, you can get a fish-eye view of the colourful coral reefs and abundant sea creatures. Whether it’s shape-shifting clouds of vibrant fish or gently drifting sea turtles, there’s a whole underwater world for you to discover. You may even meet the odd curious sea lion or reef shark.
Our top snorkelling spots while touring the Galápagos Islands include Eden Islet off the coast of Santa Cruz. As a simple sliver of volcanic rock amongst the turquoise waters, the shallows around Eden are teeming with life – be on the lookout for rays and turtles. Playa Mansa is also a great place to go snorkelling. The secluded mangrove cove creates a calm, sheltered bay perfect for subaquatic exploration. You can enjoy snorkelling all year round, but one of the best times for it in the Galápagos Islands is from January to May when the weather is at its warmest and the sea is calmer.
Photographing the wildlife of the Galápagos
A vacation in the Galápagos Islands is a photographer’s dream. You’ll encounter wildlife at every turn on your trip, from land to sea. We even have an onboard professional photographer to give you some helpful tips and tricks. From your expedition boat, you might capture playful dolphins, drifting rays and soaring albatrosses. And from our glass-bottom boat, you can immortalise the vibrant underwater scenes.
On land, you can get even closer to the action. Because of the isolated nature of the Galápagos Islands, species have evolved without many predators, making them mostly indifferent to the presence of humans. This allows you to admire the animals at a close but respectable distance. From snow-white beaches to rocky shores and green forests, you can photograph iconic wildlife like giant tortoises, lizards and iguanas in their natural habitat. Our itineraries are carefully designed to ensure we visit the best wildlife viewing locations across the islands, giving you the most photo opportunities. Our complete tours include visits to the giant tortoises of Santa Cruz, the boobies of San Cristobal, the Waved Albatrosses of Española and the sea lions of North Seymour.
Birdwatching in the Galápagos
The Galápagos Islands are a birder’s paradise with many endemic species living in the remote archipelago. During our cruise of the islands, we’ll stop at breeding grounds and thriving colonies, allowing you to see first-hand some of the iconic birdlife of the Galápagos. You’ll see the finches that helped cement Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. The various species of finch and their distinctive beaks can be seen across the Galápagos Islands, and you can see them up close at the Charles Darwin Research Station.
We’ll also visit Española Island, which is the main breeding ground for Waved Albatrosses. Although they live here in large numbers, this is their almost exclusive breeding ground and so, they’re classed as critically endangered. At Punto Pitt on San Cristobal Island, you can also see up to three different species of booby: the colourful Blue-footed Booby, the determined Red-footed Booby, and the large Nazca Booby. Other interesting birds to keep watch for while cruising the islands are Galápagos Penguins – the only species to live north of the Equator –, the formidable Galápagos Hawk, and the Greater Frigatebird with its characteristic red throat.
Science, conservation and research
With a focus on science and conservation, you can give back on a Galápagos Islands vacation with Hurtigruten Expeditions. Given the extraordinary ecology of the islands, it's a hub for global conservation and research. During your tour, you'll have the opportunity to visit some of the archipelago’s largest projects and contribute to global studies. We’ll stop at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island, where over 200 scientists and volunteers are working to preserve the ecosystems and wildlife of the Galápagos. The station is a breeding centre for giant tortoises and here you can see babies in incubators. You can also witness Darwin’s famous finches and see their evolved differences that helped inspire his theories.
On San Cristobal Island, we also visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve where giant tortoises roam freely around the six-hectare open forest. At the reserve, you can also see other endemic species like San Cristobal Mockingbirds and San Cristobal lava lizards. Throughout your trip, you’ll learn about the ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands. You can even participate in global research as part of Citizen Science projects and analyse samples in our onboard Science Corner.