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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 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

855 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the White-tipped Reef Shark is, at the time it is there.

855
  • 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

Black Turtle Cove, day 9

Possible11 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Black Turtle Cove, day 9

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
30/09/2026US$7,140

Galaxy Stella  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access

Black Turtle Cove, day 8

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$6,035

Galaxy Sirius  ·  6-Day Western & Northern: Rabida's Red Sand Beach

Black Turtle Cove, day 1

Possible7 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Black Turtle Cove, day 12

Possible14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$3,320

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

Black Turtle Cove, day 5

Possible13 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Black Turtle Cove, day 5

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

Black Turtle Cove, day 5

Possible4 spotsAsk about this date
04/10/2026US$4,152

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

Black Turtle Cove, day 5

Possible6 spotsAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$5,295

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

Black Turtle Cove, day 8

Possible1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$7,475

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB4

Black Turtle Cove, day 8

Possible1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

Black Turtle Cove, day 8

Possible1 spotAsk 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

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María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$3,320
855 departures