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The Galápagos Cruise  ·  Wildlife

Galápagos Underwater: 22 Species and Where to See Them

22
species recorded
3
found only here
14
islands
US$7,992
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.

5 of 5 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  →

Galápagos Shark

Carcharhinus galapagensis

Where
4 sites on 4 islands, mostly Central
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 12 of 97 routes · 214 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  →

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

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

On 12 of 97 routes · 214 departures in season

See these departures  →

Select a departure that actually reaches it

391 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Bottlenose Dolphin is, at the time it is there.

391
  • 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.
26/09/2026US$7,992

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

28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

03/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

03/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

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

08/10/2026US$8,345

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B

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
Treasure · Treasure: Route CAB
03/10/2026 · 14 nights · from US$14,095
Change
María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$7,992
391 departures