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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$3,320
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.

9 of 22 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

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  →

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  →

Balloonfish

Diodon holocanthus

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

Not on any itinerary we sell

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 36 of 97 routes · 853 departures in season

See these departures  →

Diamond Stingray

Dasyatis brevis

Devil's Crown
Where
1 site, Devil's Crown
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

Not on any itinerary we sell

Galápagos Bullhead Shark

Heterodontus quoyi

Buccaneer Cove
Where
1 site, Buccaneer Cove
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 2 of 97 routes · 78 departures in season

See these departures  →

Giant Hawkfish

Cirrhitus rivulatus

Devil's Crown
Where
1 site, Devil's Crown
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

Not on any itinerary we sell

King Angelfish

Holacanthus passer

Devil's Crown
Where
1 site, Devil's Crown
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

Not on any itinerary we sell

Select a departure that actually reaches it

1992 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Galápagos Fur Seal is, at the time it is there.

1992
  • 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

Punta Vicente Roca, day 5

Possible6 spotsAsk about this date
26/09/2026US$4,080

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

Puerto Egas, day 5

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date
27/09/2026US$3,600

Galaxy Stella  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Fur Seals

Isla Lobos, day 1

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$5,415

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

Punta Vicente Roca, day 4

Possible3 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$3,320

Solaris  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana

Darwin Bay, day 3

Stragglers11 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

Darwin Bay, day 3

Stragglers11 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Darwin Bay, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$3,735

Treasure  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl

Post Office Bay, day 3

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Post Office Bay, day 3

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Post Office Bay, day 3

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
30/09/2026US$7,140

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

Buccaneer Cove, day 5

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$3,352

MONIQUE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Santa Cruz's Wild Tortoises

Post Office Bay, day 2

Possible14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$6,035

Galaxy Sirius  ·  6-Day Western & Northern: Rabida's Red Sand Beach

Darwin Bay, day 5

Stragglers7 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Punta Vicente Roca, day 4

Possible14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Isla Lobos, day 11

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$3,320

Solaris  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks

Post Office Bay, day 3

Possible13 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Post Office Bay, day 3

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

Darwin Bay, day 13

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$3,992

ELITE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Post Office Bay, day 3

Possible5 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$3,570

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

Darwin Bay, day 7

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$5,576

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

Punta Vicente Roca, day 5

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

Punta Vicente Roca, day 5

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Punta Vicente Roca, day 5

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
04/10/2026US$7,992

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

Darwin Bay, day 2

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
04/10/2026US$4,152

MONIQUE  ·  5-Day Southern & Western: Kicker Rock's Swim Channel

Darwin Bay, day 4

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$5,295

Archipel I  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Urbina Bay's Coral Uplift

Punta Vicente Roca, day 6

Possible1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$7,475

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB4

Darwin Bay, day 9

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

Darwin Bay, day 9

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$5,130

Galaxy Sirius  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony

Isla Lobos, day 1

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$5,266

Solaris  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Las Tintoreras' Reef Sharks

Punta Vicente Roca, day 4

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route AB

Darwin Bay, day 9

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

Darwin Bay, day 9

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$3,840

Galaxy Stella  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel

Darwin Bay, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$4,956

Tribute  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Post Office Bay, day 3

Possible14 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

Isla Lobos, day 5

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Isla Lobos, day 5

Stragglers14 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

Your selection
Tribute · Tribute: Route ABC
07/10/2026 · 14 nights · from US$18,000
Change
María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$3,320
1992 departures