By air
Seymour Airport (GPS), ~45 min by bus and ferry to Puerto Ayora
South America · Ecuador
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Volcanic islands where wildlife shows no fear
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to May — warm and calm; June to November — cooler, rich in marine life
Don't miss
The Charles Darwin Research Station
Tortuga Bay
Kicker Rock
Bartolomé Island
Things to do
Snorkelling with sea lions
Watching giant tortoises
Island-hopping boat trips
Diving
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, wetsuit, hat
A quieter corner
Los Gemelos, twin pit craters in the Santa Cruz highlands
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Galápagos Islands?
December to May — warm and calm; June to November — cooler, rich in marine life. What to pack: Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, wetsuit, hat.
How do I get to Galápagos Islands?
Fly into Seymour Airport (GPS), ~45 min by bus and ferry to Puerto Ayora.
What is there to do in Galápagos Islands?
Snorkelling with sea lions, watching giant tortoises, island-hopping boat trips, diving. A quieter find: Los Gemelos, twin pit craters in the Santa Cruz highlands.
What should I eat in Galápagos Islands?
Fresh ceviche, encocado fish in coconut sauce and lobster in season.
About Galápagos Islands
- Island
Where it is
The Galápagos Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador, straddling the equator.
History
The islands were reached by a Spanish bishop in 1535 and later used by pirates and whalers. Ecuador claimed them in 1832, and Charles Darwin's visit aboard HMS Beagle in 1835 helped shape his theory of evolution. Most of the land became a national park in 1959.
People
Only a few islands are inhabited, mainly Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela and Floreana, where Spanish-speaking residents work in fishing, conservation and tourism.
Known for
- Giant tortoises
- Marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies
- Charles Darwin's 1835 visit
- Snorkelling with sea lions
Did you know?
The Galápagos penguin is the only penguin that lives naturally north of the equator.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.