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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 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  →

Balloonfish

Diodon holocanthus

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

Not on any itinerary we sell

Diamond Stingray

Dasyatis brevis

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

Not on any itinerary we sell

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

Tiger Snake Eel

Myrichthys tigrinus

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

Not on any itinerary we sell

Wrasse

Labridae

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

Not on any itinerary we sell

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

433 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Pacific Seahorse is, at the time it is there.

433
  • 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$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

02/10/2026US$3,320

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

02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

07/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

08/10/2026US$8,345

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B

12/10/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

15/10/2026US$5,992

ENDEMIC  ·  Western Galápagos Islands

16/10/2026US$4,150

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

16/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

21/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

21/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

25/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

30/10/2026US$4,150

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

30/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

22/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

23/11/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

23/11/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

26/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

26/11/2026US$4,491

ENDEMIC  ·  4-Day Western & Southern: Black Turtle Cove's Mangroves

27/11/2026US$4,150

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

02/12/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

02/12/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

05/12/2026US$5,350

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Black Turtle Cove Sanctuary

06/12/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

07/12/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

07/12/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

10/12/2026US$3,327

ENDEMIC  ·  4-Day Western & Southern: Black Turtle Cove's Mangroves

10/12/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

11/12/2026US$3,320

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

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$3,320
433 departures