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 →The Galápagos Cruise · Wildlife
Galápagos Underwater: 22 Species and Where to See Them
22
species recorded
3
found only here
14
islands
US$2,036
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.
1 of 1 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month
Select a departure that actually reaches it
824 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Spotted Eagle Ray is, at the time it is there.
824
- 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$3,320
Solaris · 5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana
11 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$6,035
Galaxy Sirius · 6-Day Western & Northern: Rabida's Red Sand Beach
7 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$3,570
Galaxy Orion · 8-Day Western Islands: Isabela's Tortoise Hatchery
1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$5,295
Archipel I · 8-Day Western Islands: Urbina Bay's Coral Uplift
1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$2,036
Archipel I · 4-Day Southern & Northern: Chinese Hat's Shark Channel
5 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$3,840
Galaxy Stella · 5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel
4 spotsAsk about this date
08/10/2026US$6,632
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
1 spotAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$3,528
Solaris · 5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana
5 spotsAsk about this date
15/10/2026US$6,390
Galaxy Sirius · 6-Day Western & Northern: Rabida's Red Sand Beach
8 spotsAsk about this date
15/10/2026US$4,335
EcoGalaxy · 6-Day Western & Northern: Bartolome's Pinnacle Rock
5 spotsAsk about this date
22/10/2026US$6,632
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
7 spotsAsk about this date
29/10/2026US$4,080
EcoGalaxy · 6-Day Western & Northern: Bartolome's Pinnacle Rock
9 spotsAsk about this date
02/11/2026US$2,156
Archipel I · 4-Day Southern & Northern: Chinese Hat's Shark Channel
2 spotsAsk about this date
04/11/2026US$4,080
Galaxy Stella · 5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel
5 spotsAsk about this date
12/11/2026US$6,035
Galaxy Sirius · 6-Day Western & Northern: Rabida's Red Sand Beach
8 spotsAsk about this date
18/11/2026US$4,320
Galaxy Stella · 5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel
4 spotsAsk about this date
19/11/2026US$6,632
MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins
6 spotsAsk about this date
23/11/2026US$3,735
Solaris · 5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana
1 spotAsk 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$2,036
824 departures