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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$4,152
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.

3 of 3 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

Galápagos Sea Lion

Zalophus wollebaeki

Where
on most islands
When
Year round, more between Aug and Nov
JFMAMJJASOND

On 86 of 97 routes · 2123 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  →

White-tipped Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 40 of 97 routes · 863 departures in season

See these departures  →

Select a departure that actually reaches it

338 of the 2123 upcoming departures put you where the Giant Manta Ray is, at the time it is there.

338
  • 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$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

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

04/10/2026US$4,152

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

05/10/2026US$7,475

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB4

05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

08/10/2026US$5,295

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B4

08/10/2026US$8,345

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B

09/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

10/10/2026US$7,992

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

12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

13/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

16/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

16/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

18/10/2026US$4,152

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

20/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

21/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

22/10/2026US$4,766

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B4

24/10/2026US$7,992

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

25/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BC

25/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

26/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

27/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

29/10/2026US$7,916

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

29/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

30/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

31/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

31/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

01/11/2026US$4,152

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

12/11/2026US$7,916

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

15/11/2026

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

21/11/2026US$9,990

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

22/11/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BC

22/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

26/11/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

26/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

08/12/2026US$6,690

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
13/12/2026US$4,152

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

05/01/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
16/01/2027US$10,490

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

19/01/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
24/01/2027US$5,490

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

30/01/2027US$10,490

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

16/02/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
21/02/2027US$5,490

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

30/03/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
04/04/2027US$5,490

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

13/04/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
25/05/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers9 spotsAsk about this date
08/06/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers12 spotsAsk about this date
22/06/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
27/06/2027US$5,490

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

01/07/2027US$5,450

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B4

02/07/2027

PETREL  ·  8-Day Southern & Western: Pinnacle Rock's Penguins

Pinnacle Rock, day 5

Stragglers16 spotsAsk about this date
03/07/2027US$10,490

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

06/07/2027US$7,050

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Pinnacle Rock, day 1

Stragglers16 spotsAsk about this date
11/07/2027US$5,490

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

14/07/2027US$22,240

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

16/07/2027

PETREL  ·  8-Day Southern & Western: Pinnacle Rock's Penguins

Pinnacle Rock, day 5

Stragglers16 spotsAsk about this date
17/07/2027US$10,490

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

18/07/2027US$15,745

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BC

18/07/2027US$22,240

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

22/07/2027US$9,250

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

22/07/2027US$15,745

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

22/07/2027US$22,240

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

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$4,152
338 departures