Galápagos Sea Lion
Zalophus wollebaeki
- Where
- on most islands
- When
- Year round, more between Aug and Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
On 86 of 97 routes · 2126 departures in season
See these departures →The Galápagos Cruise · Wildlife
Galápagos Underwater: 22 Species and Where to See Them
22
species recorded
3
found only here
14
islands
US$4,766
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.
Where they are
Tap an island to filter the species below. The number is how many species are recorded there.
3 of 3 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month
Giant Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
- Where
- 5 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
- When
- Jun to Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
On 50 of 97 routes · 692 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 · 862 departures in season
See these departures →Select a departure that actually reaches it
506 of the 2126 upcoming departures put you where the Sperm Whale is, at the time it is there.
506
- 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.
10/10/2026US$7,992
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
6 spotsAsk about this date
24/10/2026US$7,992
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
4 spotsAsk about this date
29/10/2026US$7,916
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
7 spotsAsk about this date
12/11/2026US$7,916
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
6 spotsAsk about this date
21/11/2026US$9,990
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
5 spotsAsk about this date
24/12/2026US$10,114
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
1 spotAsk about this date
07/01/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
6 spotsAsk about this date
16/01/2027US$10,490
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
1 spotAsk about this date
30/01/2027US$10,490
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
1 spotAsk about this date
04/02/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
10 spotsAsk about this date
18/02/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
14 spotsAsk about this date
27/02/2027US$10,490
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
1 spotAsk about this date
04/03/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
14 spotsAsk about this date
18/03/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
11 spotsAsk about this date
01/04/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
8 spotsAsk about this date
15/04/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
5 spotsAsk about this date
03/07/2027US$10,490
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
12 spotsAsk about this date
17/07/2027US$10,490
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
16 spotsAsk about this date
22/07/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
16 spotsAsk about this date
31/07/2027US$10,490
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
16 spotsAsk about this date
05/08/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
16 spotsAsk about this date
14/08/2027US$10,490
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
10 spotsAsk about this date
19/08/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
16 spotsAsk about this date
02/09/2027US$9,250
Tribute · 7-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Marine Iguanas
16 spotsAsk about this date
09/10/2027US$8,992
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
16 spotsAsk about this date
23/10/2027US$8,992
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
16 spotsAsk about this date
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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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María Fernanda Ortiz
We answer personally, and we answer ourselves. A Galápagos trip is once in a lifetime, and you want the right advice before you book.
+ 1 786 509 6338We answer first thing on the next working day
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from US$4,766
506 departures