Galápagos Travel Guide

Planning

Plan your trip: fees, flights, packing, budgets.

Galápagos Travel Guide: Everything to Plan Your Trip (2026)Planning

How to Get to Galápagos: Flights, Airlines and Fares (2026)Planning

Galápagos Entry Fees and the TCT Card (2026)Planning

Galápagos National Park Rules Every Visitor Must FollowPlanning

How Many Days Do You Need in Galápagos? (5 vs 7 Days)Planning

Galápagos Trip Cost & Budget Guide (2026)Planning

Galápagos Packing List (By Season, Checked by Locals)Planning

Baltra vs San Cristóbal Airport: Which to Fly IntoPlanning

Galápagos Ferries: Getting Between the Islands (2026)Planning

Galápagos FAQ: 22 Common Questions AnsweredPlanning

Is Galápagos safe? What you actually need to worry aboutPlanning

Galápagos seasickness guide: rough months, stable boats, calm crossingsPlanning

Tipping in Galápagos and Ecuador: who, when and how muchPlanning

Money, ATMs and cards in Galápagos: how cash actually worksPlanning

Internet and wifi in Galápagos: what connectivity really looks likePlanning

Travel insurance for Galápagos: what your policy actually needsPlanning

Galápagos with kids: what works at every agePlanning

Galápagos for seniors: pacing, access and comfort without compromisePlanning

Galápagos honeymoon guide: islands first, cloudforest afterPlanning

10 first-timer mistakes in Galápagos (and how to avoid every one)Planning

Responsible tourism in Galápagos: the rules and how to travel lighterPlanning

Galápagos visa and entry requirements: passport, TCT and park feePlanning

Islands

Island-by-island visitor guides.

Getting your bearings in Galápagos: islands, distances and what is near whatIslands

Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos: The Hub (Visitor Guide)Islands

San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos: Kicker Rock and the CapitalIslands

Isabela Island, Galápagos: Volcanoes, Penguins and Wild WestIslands

Floreana Island, Galápagos: Post Office Bay and Human HistoryIslands

Española Island, Galápagos: Waved Albatross and Punta SuárezIslands

Fernandina Island, Galápagos: Punta Espinosa and the Pristine WestIslands

Santiago Island, Galápagos: Puerto Egas, Sullivan Bay and Fur SealsIslands

Bartolomé Island, Galápagos: Pinnacle Rock and PenguinsIslands

Genovesa Island, Galápagos: The Bird IslandIslands

Santa Fe Island, Galápagos: Land Iguanas and the Oldest RocksIslands

North Seymour Island, Galápagos: Boobies, Frigatebirds and the Best Day Trip from Santa CruzIslands

South Plaza Island, Galápagos: Hybrid Iguanas and a Red Carpet of SesuviumIslands

Rabida Island, Galápagos: The Red Beach IslandIslands

Chinese Hat Island (Sombrero Chino), Galápagos: A Volcanic Cone Next to SantiagoIslands

Daphne Major Island, Galápagos: Darwin's Finches and the Island You Cannot Land OnIslands

Mosquera Islet, Galápagos: The Sandbar Between Baltra and North SeymourIslands

Darwin and Wolf Islands, Galápagos: The Best Diving in the World (and How to Get There)Islands

Marchena, Pinta and the Inaccessible Islands: Why You Cannot Visit ThemIslands

Los Gemelos and the Santa Cruz Lava Tunnels: A Highlands Half-Day from Puerto AyoraIslands

Las Grietas and Playa de los Perros: The Easy Swim Day from Puerto AyoraIslands

Month by Month

Weather, wildlife and crowds every month.

Best Time to Visit Galápagos (Seasons, Wildlife, Prices)Month by Month

Galápagos Crowds by Month: When the Islands Feel FullMonth by Month

Galápagos in JanuaryMonth by Month

Galápagos in FebruaryMonth by Month

Galápagos in MarchMonth by Month

Galápagos in AprilMonth by Month

Galápagos in MayMonth by Month

Galápagos in JuneMonth by Month

Galápagos in JulyMonth by Month

Galápagos in AugustMonth by Month

Galápagos in SeptemberMonth by Month

Galápagos in OctoberMonth by Month

Galápagos in NovemberMonth by Month

Galápagos in DecemberMonth by Month

Wildlife

Every animal, where and when to see it.

Galápagos Giant TortoiseWildlife

Galápagos Marine IguanaWildlife

Galápagos Land IguanaWildlife

Pink Land IguanaWildlife

Lava LizardWildlife

Galápagos PenguinWildlife

Flightless CormorantWildlife

Darwin's FinchesWildlife

Galápagos HawkWildlife

Galápagos MockingbirdWildlife

Galápagos DoveWildlife

Galápagos Racer SnakeWildlife

Galápagos Fur SealWildlife

Blue-footed BoobyWildlife

Red-footed BoobyWildlife

Nazca BoobyWildlife

Waved AlbatrossWildlife

FrigatebirdsWildlife

Galápagos Sea LionWildlife

Green Sea TurtleWildlife

Hammerhead SharkWildlife

Whale SharkWildlife

Galápagos Sharks: Whitetip, Blacktip, Galápagos and Tiger (Guide)Wildlife

Rays of Galápagos (Manta, Eagle, Mobula)Wildlife

Dolphins and Whales of GalápagosWildlife

Galápagos Birds: The Complete GuideWildlife

Galápagos Wildlife Calendar (Month by Month)Wildlife

Activities

Snorkeling, diving, hiking and more.

Snorkeling in Galápagos: Best Sites, Seasons and PricesActivities

Diving in Galápagos: Day Trips vs Liveaboards, Wolf and DarwinActivities

Kayaking and Paddleboarding in Galápagos: Where and HowActivities

Surfing in Galápagos: Breaks, Boards and RulesActivities

Hiking in Galápagos: Trails, Volcanoes and RulesActivities

Galápagos Photography Guide: Gear, Settings and EthicsActivities

Birdwatching in Galápagos: A 7-Day ItineraryActivities

Galápagos by Bike: Routes on Santa Cruz, Isabela and San CristóbalActivities

Sites & Towns

Iconic visitor sites and the three towns.

Puerto Ayora Guide: Base Camp of the GalápagosSites & Towns

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Guide: San Cristóbal's Capital TownSites & Towns

Puerto Villamil Guide: Sand Streets on IsabelaSites & Towns

Tortuga Bay: Santa Cruz's Iconic Beach WalkSites & Towns

Los Túneles, Isabela: Galápagos' Best Snorkel SiteSites & Towns

Kicker Rock (León Dormido): San Cristóbal's Snorkel and Dive IconSites & Towns

El Chato Tortoise Reserve: Wild Giants in the Santa Cruz HighlandsSites & Towns

Post Office Bay, Floreana: The Whalers' Barrel That Still WorksSites & Towns

Garrapatero Beach: Santa Cruz's Quiet Stretch of SandSites & Towns

Las Bachas Beach: Turtle Nesting on Santa Cruz's North ShoreSites & Towns

Concha de Perla: Isabela's Free Snorkel PoolSites & Towns

Charles Darwin Research Station: What You Actually See (and Why to Go)Sites & Towns

Cruises & Tours

Choosing boats, routes and land tours.

Galápagos Cruise vs Land-Based: Which Is Right for You?Cruises & Tours

Catamarans vs Monohulls in Galápagos: Stability, Cabins and PriceCruises & Tours

Small Ship vs Large Ship in Galápagos: What the Park Rules Mean for Your DayCruises & Tours

Complimentary nights in Mindo with your Galápagos cruiseCruises & Tours

How to Choose a Galápagos Cruise: Boat Class, Itinerary and LengthCruises & Tours

Galápagos Last-Minute Cruises: How the Discounts Really WorkCruises & Tours

Galápagos Cruise Costs Explained: What You Pay For, Line by LineCruises & Tours

Luxury Galápagos Cruises: What the Money BuysCruises & Tours

Budget Galápagos Cruises: The Honest OptionsCruises & Tours

Land-Based Galápagos Tours: Island Hopping Day by DayCruises & Tours

Galápagos Cruise Itineraries Explained: Routes, Regions and the 8-Day RuleCruises & Tours

Itineraries

Day-by-day plans, including Galápagos + Mindo.

7-Day Galápagos Itinerary: Two Islands, Land-Based or With a Cruise LegItineraries

10 Days in Ecuador: Quito, Mindo Cloudforest and GalápagosItineraries

5 Days in Galápagos Without a Cruise: Land-Based ItineraryItineraries

Galápagos vs the Ecuadorian Amazon: Which One Deserves the Trip?Itineraries

Family Itinerary for Galápagos: 8 Days Built Around KidsItineraries

Honeymoon Itinerary for Ecuador: Islands, Cloudforest and the Quiet FinishItineraries

Galápagos on a Budget: The Day-by-Day Cheap ItineraryItineraries

Mindo cloud forest extension after your Galápagos cruiseItineraries

Quito & Mindo before your Galápagos cruiseItineraries

Mindo all-inclusive programs: prices and what's includedItineraries

Combining Galápagos and Mindo: 10, 12 and 14-day itinerariesItineraries

Best of Ecuador: Galápagos, Quito and the cloud forestItineraries