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Things to do in the Galapagos
Swim with sea lions, hike an active volcano, or spend a morning with a giant tortoise. This is not a beach destination, it is an active, nature-first one.
Most things to do in the Galapagos revolve around wildlife and nature: birdwatching, walking trails where the animals do not move away from you, and swimming, snorkelling or diving in genuinely rich water. If you are on a boat, expect at least one morning and one afternoon activity most days, each led by a naturalist guide who briefs you beforehand on what to expect and what to wear. It is active rather than passive, though most island visits suit a wide range of ages and fitness levels.
A network of official visitor sites, each with a marked trail, is the only place you can go ashore, and always with a certified naturalist guide. Groups are capped at 16, so trails never feel crowded. Landings are either "dry", stepping onto a dock or rocks, or "wet", wading in from the dinghy through shallow water.
The Santa Cruz highlands mix sink holes, walk-through lava tunnels and misty Scalesia forest, and are the best place to find giant tortoises in the wild. In Puerto Ayora, the Charles Darwin Research Station is a genuine must, home to the giant tortoise breeding programme and the place Lonesome George lived until 2012.
Offered most days on a cruise and regularly on land-based trips, with equipment usually provided free. You do not need experience, and in some places you do not even need to swim; a guide will help you look below the surface from standing depth. Sea lions and, at some sites, penguins often join in.
Several cruise yachts carry kayaks, used at designated recreational sites such as Cerro Brujo on San Cristobal, Gardner Bay on Espanola and Tagus Cove on Isabela. Land-based and island-hopping itineraries often have more opportunity for it, sometimes alongside sea lions, turtles and rays.
Isabela's best-known hike climbs to the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano, one of the largest craters on earth after Ngorongoro, and can continue on to Volcan Chico across a stark, barely-vegetated lava landscape. It is a full day and around 16 kilometres, more energetic than a typical landing-site walk, and better suited to a land-based or island-hopping trip than a standard cruise itinerary.
The Galapagos is regarded as one of the world's great dive destinations, best experienced on a dedicated liveaboard reaching Wolf and Darwin, or as day dives arranged from a land base. See our diving guide for seasons and what to expect, or our diving holidays to book.
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