Red-lipped Batfish
Ogcocephalus darwini
- Where
- 2 sites on 2 islands, mostly Central
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 36 of 97 routes · 853 departures in season
See these departures →The Galápagos Cruise · Wildlife
Galápagos Underwater: 22 Species and Where to See Them
22
species recorded
3
found only here
14
islands
US$3,570
per guest, double occupancy
Twenty-two species are recorded in the water around the 14 islands our ships reach. Most of what you will actually swim with turns up on ordinary snorkeling stops rather than on dedicated dives: sea lions, fur seals, white-tipped reef sharks and rays. Bottlenose dolphins often ride the bow between islands.
The water changes with the season more than the animals do. December to May the sea is warm, the surface is calm and the visibility is at its clearest, which is the better half of the year for snorkeling. From June the cold Cromwell current pushes up the west coast, the water is colder and richer, and the larger animals feed closer in. Sea lion pups arrive between August and November and are the most curious thing you will meet in the water. Kicker Rock is the hammerhead site and it is never promised. Devil's Crown closes when the swell is wrong. The map below shows which island holds what.
Where they are
Tap an island to filter the species below. The number is how many species are recorded there.
11 of 11 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month
Galápagos Fur Seal
Arctocephalus galapagoensis
- Where
- 7 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 82 of 97 routes · 1992 departures in season
See these departures →Galápagos Sea Lion
Zalophus wollebaeki
- Where
- on most islands
- When
- Year round, more between Aug and Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
On 86 of 97 routes · 2108 departures in season
See these departures →Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
- Where
- on most islands
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 36 of 97 routes · 853 departures in season
See these departures →Ocean Sunfish
Mola spp.
- Where
- 1 site, Punta Vicente Roca
- When
- Jul to Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
On 36 of 97 routes · 375 departures in season
See these departures →Pacific Seahorse
Hippocampus ingens
- Where
- 2 sites on 2 islands, mostly West
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 38 of 97 routes · 820 departures in season
See these departures →Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
- Where
- 2 sites, mostly West
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 41 of 97 routes · 960 departures in season
See these departures →Golden Cownose Ray
Rhinoptera steindachneri
- Where
- 3 sites on 2 islands, mostly West
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 50 of 97 routes · 1088 departures in season
See these departures →Giant Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
- Where
- 5 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
- When
- Jun to Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
On 50 of 97 routes · 691 departures in season
See these departures →Spotted Eagle Ray
Aetobatus laticeps
- Where
- 5 sites on 5 islands, mostly South
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 77 of 97 routes · 1852 departures in season
See these departures →White-tipped Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
- Where
- on most islands
- When
- Year round
JFMAMJJASOND
On 40 of 97 routes · 855 departures in season
See these departures →Select a departure that actually reaches it
26/09/2026US$7,992
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
Punta Vicente Roca, day 5
26/09/2026US$4,080
EcoGalaxy · 6-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Restoration
Elizabeth Bay, day 2
28/09/2026US$5,415
Alya · 6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas
Punta Vicente Roca, day 4
28/09/2026US$14,095
Solaris · Solaris: Route BCA
Punta Vicente Roca, day 12
29/09/2026US$10,345
Treasure · Treasure: Route BC
Punta Vicente Roca, day 9
29/09/2026US$14,095
Treasure · Treasure: Route BCA
Punta Vicente Roca, day 9
30/09/2026US$7,140
Galaxy Stella · 8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access
Las Tintoreras, day 2
01/10/2026US$13,490
Tribute · Tribute: Route CA
Punta Vicente Roca, day 4
01/10/2026US$18,000
Tribute · Tribute: Route CAB
Punta Vicente Roca, day 4
02/10/2026US$10,345
Solaris · Solaris: Route CA
Punta Vicente Roca, day 8
02/10/2026US$14,095
Solaris · Solaris: Route CAB
Punta Vicente Roca, day 8
03/10/2026US$3,570
Galaxy Orion · 8-Day Western Islands: Isabela's Tortoise Hatchery
Las Tintoreras, day 2
Show more departures of shown
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
Your selection
Galaxy Orion · 8-Day Western Islands: Isabela's Tortoise Hatchery
03/10/2026 · 7 nights · from US$3,570
María Fernanda Ortiz
We reply within one business day
Prefer to talk? + 1 786 509 6338
We answer first thing on the next working day
María Fernanda Ortiz
We answer personally, and we answer ourselves. A Galápagos trip is once in a lifetime, and you want the right advice before you book.
+ 1 786 509 6338We answer first thing on the next working day
Talk to us
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from US$3,570
1003 departures