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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$5,415
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

853 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Red-lipped Batfish is, at the time it is there.

853
  • 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

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$5,415

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

Punta Vicente Roca, day 4

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Punta Vicente Roca, day 12

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Punta Vicente Roca, day 9

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Punta Vicente Roca, day 9

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Punta Vicente Roca, day 4

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Punta Vicente Roca, day 4

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Punta Vicente Roca, day 8

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

Punta Vicente Roca, day 8

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$5,576

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

Punta Vicente Roca, day 5

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

Punta Vicente Roca, day 5

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Punta Vicente Roca, day 5

Stragglers2 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
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
24/09/2026 · 7 nights · from US$6,632
Change
María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$5,415
853 departures