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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$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.

1 of 1 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 · 2108 departures in season

See these departures  →

Select a departure that actually reaches it

916 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Spotted Eagle Ray is, at the time it is there.

916
  • 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$2,120

Galaxy Orion  ·  5-Day Western & Southern: San Cristobal's Highlands

28/09/2026US$3,320

Solaris  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana

28/09/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

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$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

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$5,295

Archipel I  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Urbina Bay's Coral Uplift

05/10/2026US$2,036

Archipel I  ·  4-Day Southern & Northern: Chinese Hat's Shark 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$5,130

Galaxy Sirius  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony

06/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route AB

06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

07/10/2026US$3,840

Galaxy Stella  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel

07/10/2026US$4,956

Tribute  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

07/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

09/10/2026US$8,300

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route AB

09/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

12/10/2026US$3,528

Solaris  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana

12/10/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

13/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

18/10/2026US$4,152

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

20/10/2026US$4,845

Galaxy Sirius  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony

21/10/2026US$4,956

Tribute  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

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

27/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

29/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: 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

02/11/2026US$2,156

Archipel I  ·  4-Day Southern & Northern: Chinese Hat's Shark Channel

03/11/2026US$3,485

EcoGalaxy  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Santa Fe's Endemic Iguana

04/11/2026US$4,080

Galaxy Stella  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel

04/11/2026US$5,576

Tribute  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

08/11/2026US$4,952

ENDEMIC  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Lonesome George's Legacy

14/11/2026US$7,191

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Fernandina's Underwater Iguanas

15/11/2026US$4,152

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

17/11/2026US$5,130

Galaxy Sirius  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony

18/11/2026US$4,320

Galaxy Stella  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel

20/11/2026US$8,300

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route AB

20/11/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

21/11/2026US$2,385

Galaxy Orion  ·  5-Day Western & Southern: San Cristobal's Highlands

22/11/2026US$5,571

ENDEMIC  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Lonesome George's Legacy

22/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

23/11/2026US$3,735

Solaris  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana

23/11/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

23/11/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

24/11/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

26/11/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

26/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

28/11/2026US$10,745

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Sunfish

28/11/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

30/11/2026US$2,156

Archipel I  ·  4-Day Southern & Northern: Chinese Hat's Shark Channel

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$2,036
916 departures