The Galápagos Cruise · Wildlife

Galápagos Underwater: 22 Species and Where to See Them

species recorded

found only here

islands

US$3,327

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

On 86 of 97 routes · 2120 departures in season

See these departures →

Select a departure that actually reaches it

02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris · Solaris: Route CAB

Mosquera Islet, day 12

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date

03/10/2026US$3,992

ELITE · 4-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Mosquera Islet, day 4

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date

04/10/2026US$7,992

ENDEMIC · 8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely6 spotsAsk about this date

06/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris · Solaris: Route AB

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date

06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris · Solaris: Route ABC

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date

07/10/2026US$4,956

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

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date

07/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute · Tribute: Route AB

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date

07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute · Tribute: Route ABC

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date

08/10/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Mosquera Islet, day 7

Likely1 spotAsk about this date

12/10/2026US$3,528

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

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date

12/10/2026US$8,300

Solaris · Solaris: Route BC

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date

12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris · Solaris: Route BCA

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date

16/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris · Solaris: Route CAB

Mosquera Islet, day 12

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date

20/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris · Solaris: Route AB

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date

20/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris · Solaris: Route ABC

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date

21/10/2026US$4,956

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

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely13 spotsAsk about this date

21/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute · Tribute: Route AB

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date

21/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute · Tribute: Route ABC

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date

22/10/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Mosquera Islet, day 7

Likely7 spotsAsk about this date

22/10/2026US$4,140

Alya · 5-Day Northern & Western: Bartolome's Endemic Plant

Mosquera Islet, day 4

Likely1 spotAsk about this date

25/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute · Tribute: Route BCA

Mosquera Islet, day 12

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date

26/10/2026US$3,735

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

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date

26/10/2026US$8,300

Solaris · Solaris: Route BC

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date

26/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris · Solaris: Route BCA

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date

29/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute · Tribute: Route CA

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely7 spotsAsk about this date

31/10/2026US$3,992

ELITE · 4-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Mosquera Islet, day 4

Likely7 spotsAsk about this date

04/11/2026US$5,576

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

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely7 spotsAsk about this date

19/11/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Mosquera Islet, day 7

Likely6 spotsAsk about this date

19/11/2026US$4,140

Alya · 5-Day Northern & Western: Bartolome's Endemic Plant

Mosquera Islet, day 4

Likely8 spotsAsk about this date

22/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute · Tribute: Route BCA

Mosquera Islet, day 12

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date

23/11/2026US$3,735

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

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely1 spotAsk about this date

23/11/2026US$8,300

Solaris · Solaris: Route BC

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely1 spotAsk about this date

23/11/2026US$14,095

Solaris · Solaris: Route BCA

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely1 spotAsk about this date

26/11/2026US$13,490

Tribute · Tribute: Route CA

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date

26/11/2026US$18,000

Tribute · Tribute: Route CAB

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely13 spotsAsk about this date

29/11/2026US$8,563

ENDEMIC · 8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti

Mosquera Islet, day 8

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date

02/12/2026US$4,956

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

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date

02/12/2026US$11,150

Tribute · Tribute: Route AB

Mosquera Islet, day 2

Likely13 spotsAsk about this date

03/12/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE · 8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Mosquera Islet, day 7

Where they are

Galápagos Sea Lion

Select a departure that actually reaches it

What's included

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