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The Galápagos Cruise  ·  Wildlife

Galápagos Wildlife: 25 Animals and Where to See Them

25
species recorded
14
found only here
15
islands
US$3,570
per guest, double occupancy

Twenty-five animals account for most of the reason people come to Galápagos, and fourteen of them live nowhere else on earth: the giant tortoise, the marine iguana, the flightless cormorant, the waved albatross, the only penguin that breeds on the equator. All twenty-five are recorded across the 15 islands our ships call at, and no single itinerary reaches all of them. The best get to twenty-four, a typical departure to eighteen.

Where you go decides more than when. Fifteen of the twenty-five are on record all year, so the itinerary matters more than the calendar. The waved albatross is on Española and nowhere else, and it is at sea from January to March. The flightless cormorant is on Fernandina and Isabela only, in the cold water of the west. The Santa Fé land iguana lives on the one island it is named after. Blue-footed boobies dance from June to August, the male frigatebirds of Genovesa inflate their red throat pouches from March to June, sea lion pups arrive between August and November, and the marine iguanas of Punta Suárez turn red and green from December to March. Green turtles, white-tipped reef sharks and brown pelicans turn up almost everywhere, on ordinary snorkeling stops and at every landing. The map below shows which island holds what, and the list further down counts only the departures that are in the right place in the right month.

9 of 18 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus nanus

Where
2 sites on 2 islands, mostly Central
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 45 of 97 routes · 1160 departures in season

See these departures  →

Flightless Cormorant

Nannopterum harrisi

Where
6 sites on 2 islands, mostly West
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 42 of 97 routes · 1011 departures in season

See these departures  →

Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Where
on most islands
When
Year round, more between Jan and Mar
JFMAMJJASOND

On 85 of 97 routes · 1955 departures in season

See these departures  →

Darwin's Finches

Geospiza / Camarhynchus spp.

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 82 of 97 routes · 1993 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Fur Seal

Arctocephalus galapagoensis

Where
7 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 82 of 97 routes · 2008 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Hawk

Buteo galapagoensis

Where
7 sites on 6 islands, mostly West
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 82 of 97 routes · 2050 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Land Iguana

Conolophus subcristatus

Where
7 sites on 6 islands, mostly South
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 83 of 97 routes · 2028 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Penguin

Spheniscus mendiculus

Where
8 sites on 5 islands, mostly West
When
Year round, more between Jun and Nov
JFMAMJJASOND

On 78 of 97 routes · 1876 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis spp.

Where
10 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
When
Year round, more between Jun and Dec
JFMAMJJASOND

On 85 of 97 routes · 2081 departures in season

See these departures  →

The full lists, group by group

The fifteen above are the shortlist. Each group has its own page with every species on record, the same island map and the same departure check.

Select a departure that actually reaches it

680 of the 2126 upcoming departures put you where the Vermilion Flycatcher is, at the time it is there.

680
  • You see it. The ship is at the site while the species is recorded there.
  • Right island, wrong month. The route calls there outside the months on record.
  • Never gets there. The route does not call at any of its sites.
28/09/2026US$5,415

Alya  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas

28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

29/09/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
30/09/2026US$7,140

Galaxy Stella  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access

01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

03/10/2026US$3,570

Galaxy Orion  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Isabela's Tortoise Hatchery

03/10/2026US$5,576

Treasure  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
04/10/2026US$7,992

ENDEMIC  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti

Sierra Negra, day 4

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route AB

06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Sierra Negra, day 10

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
09/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

Sierra Negra, day 11

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
10/10/2026US$7,992

ELITE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$5,415

Alya  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas

12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

13/10/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
14/10/2026US$6,720

Galaxy Stella  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access

16/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

17/10/2026US$5,266

Treasure  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
20/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route AB

20/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

21/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Sierra Negra, day 10

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
24/10/2026US$7,992

ELITE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
24/10/2026US$6,390

Galaxy Sirius  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Albemarle Point's WWII Ruins

25/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 6

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
25/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 6

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
26/10/2026US$5,700

Alya  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas

26/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

27/10/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
27/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
29/10/2026US$7,916

Tribute  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers7 spotsAsk about this date
29/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers7 spotsAsk about this date
31/10/2026US$6,195

Treasure  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
31/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
31/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
07/11/2026US$7,100

Galaxy Sirius  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Albemarle Point's WWII Ruins

08/11/2026US$4,135

Bonita  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Flamingos

09/11/2026US$5,700

Alya  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas

12/11/2026US$7,916

Tribute  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
14/11/2026US$7,191

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Underwater Iguanas

20/11/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

Sierra Negra, day 11

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
21/11/2026US$9,990

ELITE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
21/11/2026US$5,100

EcoGalaxy  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Restoration

22/11/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 6

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
22/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 6

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
23/11/2026US$5,700

Alya  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas

23/11/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

24/11/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
24/11/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
26/11/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
26/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers10 spotsAsk about this date
28/11/2026US$10,745

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Sunfish

28/11/2026US$6,195

Treasure  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
28/11/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
28/11/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Sierra Negra, day 3

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
29/11/2026US$8,563

ENDEMIC  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti

Sierra Negra, day 4

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
02/12/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Sierra Negra, day 10

Stragglers10 spotsAsk about this date
04/12/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

Sierra Negra, day 11

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
06/12/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 6

Stragglers10 spotsAsk about this date
06/12/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 6

Stragglers10 spotsAsk about this date
07/12/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

08/12/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
08/12/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Sierra Negra, day 7

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
09/12/2026US$7,560

Galaxy Stella  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access

10/12/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers13 spotsAsk about this date
10/12/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Sierra Negra, day 2

Stragglers7 spotsAsk about this date

What's included

✓All meals on board

✓Two certified national park naturalist guides

✓All excursions and landings listed in the itinerary

✓Snorkelling gear and wetsuit

✓Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards on board

✓Coffee, tea and water at any time

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María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$3,570
680 departures