15 unmissable things to do in the Galapagos Islands
Last updated on August 10th, 2026 at 01:51 am
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So, you’re planning a trip to the Galapagos? Amazing – its a outdoor enthusiast and wildlife lover’s mecca, and enough to make anyone jealous!
So get ready for having your personal space completely invaded by sea lions sleeping on cafe chairs, marine iguanas sunning themselves on the beach beside, blue footed boobies looking at you like a curiosity, and giant tortoises moving at the speed of dial-up internet.
But its difficult! There is so much to see and do, and knowing what the best things to do, the best islands to visit, the best day trips to take is like a massive puzzle!
However long you stay on the islands there is so much to do and you’re almost surely going to have to pick and choose. To save you the headache, I’ve rounded up the 15 unmissables! Whether you want to snorkel with penguins, hike over raw volcanic lava fields, or just find the best spot to watch a sunset with a beer and fifty sea lions, this is your key Galapagos bucket list.
Read this article, use it as the start of your bucket list, then follow the links in the Related Posts for a deeper dive into each island and what to do there!
Contents
Unmissable things on Santa Cruz Island – the activity hub
Unmissable things on San Cristóbal Island – the wildlife and surf capital
Unmissable things on Isabela Island – the laid-back volcanic wilderness
A 2-week itinerary with the 15 unmissable things to do!
What to pack for the Galapagos
Where to stay in the Galapagos
Frequently asked questions about Tirana
Trip Planning Checklist
These are the booking platforms I personally use for all my travels. If you book through these affiliate links, it helps support this site and keeps me producing free travel guides – at absolutely no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for the support! Cheers!
All in one – if you want to book flights and accommodation as a package, use expedia
Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight cheaper than booking direct with the airline!
Accommodation – I use booking.com for hotels, Hostelworld for a hostel, and Vrbo for holiday houses.
Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.
Tours and Activities – book with Viator or GetYourGuide. These are my top picks – one for each island:
- Puerto Ayora – a trip to North Seymour Island
- Isabela – a trip to Los Tuneles
- San Cristobal – a trip to Kicker Rock
Car rental – I usually use DiscoverCars but you cannot rent a car in the Galapagos!
Insurance – I usually use EKTA , but another good option, especially if you are from the US is SafetyWing. EKTA works well as they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!
Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is often my first option for buses, ferries and trains – they are expanding worldwide but are very strong in Asia. They cover parts of Europe like Germany and France, and Australia and Latin America – especially Argentina.
Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!
Thanks so much if you used one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!
So lets go – these are 15 absolute best things to do across Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Isabela…..
Unmissable things on Santa Cruz Island – the activity hub
There is so much to do on Santa Cruz it makes it hard to choose, but you can put these things at the top of your Galapagos bucket list as a good starter.
1. Stand among giant tortoises and walk through an ancient lava tunnel
Paid tour or entrance fee – Scenery / Wildlife
Heading into the lush, misty highlands to a private tortoise ranch and walk amongst massive, ancient giant tortoises as they (slowly) roam around in their natural environment.
You can also walk through the amazing lava tunnels nearby! The longest is a full kilometer long and they are all millions of years old. They are very cool – literally and figuratively!
Another highlight of the area is Los Gemelos – the twins – two drater lakes in the highland forest. Catch a taxi and make your own way to each or take one of these tours and see it all:
- Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnels, & Tortuga Bay Beach Day Tour
- Santa Cruz Highland Tour: Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnel & Gemelos
- Giant Tortoises Tour, Lava Tunnels & Stop at Los Gemelos Craters”
2. Make the trek to Tortuga Bay and kayak with the sharks
Free – Snorkeling / Swimming / Wildlife
Walk along a gorgeous, 40min paved walking trail through a giant cactus forest to a beautiful beach of powdery white sand – Playa Brava. The sea is a bit wild there, but if you walk to the very end, you’ll find Playa Mansa. This is a calm lagoon where you can rent a kayak and paddle directly around the resting white-tip reef sharks and maybe rays, a turtle or two, and even baby hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. You can go alone or take a tour – this one with an underwater specialist is good for the wildlife lovers like me!
3. Swim in the volcanic crevice of Las Grietas
Entrance fee for guide – Snorkeling / Swimming / Scenery
Take a short water-taxi ride and hike from Puerto Ayora to Las Grietas. This is a stunning, deep canyon-like rock fissure filled with crystal-clear water. It is the most wonderful swimming – especially if you can get there early without too many others.
Note: You have to go in with a guide – you can hire one at Las Grietas or go on this tour:
Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island (also includes wildlife and great info from the guide.)
4. Hang out with very local wildlife at the Puerto Ayora Fish Market
Free – Wildlife
Stop by at this tiny outdoor market in the morning or afternoon when the fishermen bring in the daily catch. It becomes a hilarious local spectacle as pelicans and sea lions hang around the stalls, begging for scraps. Meet Lupe the famous sea lion while you are there!
5. Go on an amazing day tour to North Seymour or Bartolomé Island
Paid tour only – Snorkeling / Scenery / Wildlife
Santa Cruz is the prime launch pad for day boats to uninhabited islands. Its almost impossible to choose, but the two top contenders are probably North Seymour and Bartolomé.
On North Seymour Island you can hike the island’s easy trails and spot sea lions, orange land iguanas and all kinds of marine birds including swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies and, of course, frigates.
During mating season the male frigates are stunning to see showing off their puffed red chests and doing the best dance moves they can to show off and attract a lady!
These are highly recommended tours:
But Bartolomé offers the most famous and postcard view in the Galapagos over Pinnacle Rock!
This Full day Bartolomé Island and Sullivan Bay trip is more about the geography and the iconic volcanic landscape photo taken from a viewpoint you hike to on the island. The trip is about 80% hiking and 20% swimming when you get there – but you do get that iconic view!
Take your pick!
Note – I could have done just the top five day trips from Santa Cruz – so do allow to go on two or more of these! There is a lot more detail about options in 10+ fantastic wild things to do on Santa Cruz – the Galapagos Islands.
Unmissable things on San Cristóbal Island – the wildlife and surf capital
I landed first on San Cristobal – and the wildlife blew my mind. Don’t miss these things:
6. Snorkel through Kicker Rock on a 360 tour of the island
Paid tour only – Snorkeling / Diving / Wildlife
An absolute must-do of the islands – Kicker Rock! Its known locally as León Dormido, and is a huge volcanic rock tower that simply rises 140 meters straight out of the sea. Snorkeling or diving through the narrow, deep-water channel split between the rocks is absolutely brilliant -you are almost guaranteed to look down and see schools of hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, and spotted eagle rays – and of course masses of fish!
You can go on a 360 tour of the island which includes Kicker Rock but also white-sand paradise beaches like Bahía Rosa Blanca and Cerro Brujo – highly recommended.
These are recommended tours:
- San Cristobal: 360 Island Tour with Snorkeling
- San Cristobal Galapagos 360 – Snorkeling Tour (Kicker Rock)
Note – do go on a calm day – you don’t want choppy seas.
7. Hike Tijeretas Hill for Cliffside Views and learn about the islands on the way
Free – Snorkeling / Scenery / Wildlife / History
Tijeretas Hill is named after the tijeretas (frigatebirds) that nest in the surrounding trees! The hill is an easy walk that gives you stunning panoramic views over the bay. To me, it was also a wonderful showcase of the native flora, as well as the frigate birds.
On the way, and before you walk visit the Galapagos Interpretation Center. It is completely free and gives you all the history of the penal colony, human impact, and Charles Darwin’s first landing (which happened right on San Cristobal in 1835) as well as a lot of information on the flora and fauna on the island. Visit it before exploring the rest of the island(s) – it makes everything else you do more meaningful.
8. Swim with sea lions
Free – Snorkeling / Swimming / Wildlife
It’s amazing just how inquisitive these wonderful animals are – and how much fun this is. There are plenty of places for this but two of the best places are on San Cristobal.
A short taxi or bike ride from town is the wonderful wild beach of La Loberia with a massive colony of sea lions. Put your snorkel and mask on and walk straight into the shallow, protected tide pools. You will find yourself swimming with turtles and young sea lion pups who will swim right up to your face to play.
The other great spot is Muelle Tijeretas – get there via a walk to the Cerro Tijeretas viewpoint. Time it for high tide as there is no beach. But its a fantastic place to snorkel and swim with the sea lions. They totally get in your face – and I mean in your face! Its hard to get photos as they are too close!
9. Enjoy the sunset with the Sea Lions and Iguanas at Playa Mann
Free – Swimming / Sunset / Wildlife
Because the beach faces directly west, Playa Mann is the premier sunset spot on the island. The thing is – the sea lions think so too. Head to the beach about 5.30pm with a beer or a fresh juice to sit on the sand and watch the sun go down along with dozens of dozing sea lions and the odd iguana for good measure!
10. Take the “Highlands Tour”
Taxi or tour cost – Hiking / Swimming / Scenery / Wildlife
Watch the frigate birds swooping and diving into the El Junco crater lake where they cleanse the salt from their wings! They can’t land on the water making it even more fascinating to watch. Its also great to see the other birds that like to hang out here too – plenty of ducks and waders, including the white-cheeked pintail duck, moorhen, common gallinule, cattle egret and pied-billed grebes. But the frigates do steal the show!
Then visit the Galapaguera – the giant tortoise reserve on the way to Playa Puerto Chino – a beautiful beach for easy swimming and lazing. On the way home visit the giant ceiba tree in El Progreso – complete with treehouse accommodation!
Negotiate with taxi drivers for the amount of time and money – or take this organised tour with no hassles:
San Cristobal: Highlands, Beach, and Snorkeling Tour
A final option – you can walk!! This is the AllTrails map all the way to Playa Porto Chino beach!
Unmissable things on Isabela Island – the laid-back volcanic wilderness
Oh I loved Isabela – its so chill, and really its another wildlife capital! Don’t skip it or miss any of these things!
11. Navigate the lava landscape of Los Tuneles
Paid tour only – Scenery / Wildlife
It is a high contender for the best tour in the entire archipelago – well at least for the scenery. Visit this Dr Seuss- like surreal landscape of stone arches, bridges, and tunnels. You get to walk on top of the lava bridges to see blue-footed boobies nesting right by your feet – they just look at you as if to say “Well hello and what do you want?” You will see turtles, rays and fish from the bridges – just by looking down into the water!
Most tours take you snorkelling with sea horses, and sleeping white-tip sharks as well!
If you are only going to do one day trip on Isabela island, this is the one! I highly highly recommend this Los Tuneles Snorkelling trip but this is a good alternative too!
12. Swim with Penguins at Concha de Perla
Free or paid tour – Snorkeling / Wildlife
Right next to the main ferry pier in Puerto Villamil, is Concha de Perla – a completely free, mangrove-ringed natural lagoon. Walk down the wooden boardwalk (carefully stepping over the marine iguanas and sleeping sea lions), put your snorkel and mask on, and swim around. You’ll likely end up swimming with marine iguanas and penguins – maybe turtles and rays too!
Pro Tip: Don’t stick close to the end of the boardwalk. Instead swim out and spend a bit of time. Nothing happens fast, but we ended up finding a penguin or two, some rays and little sharks, and there were a few turtles to swim with. An iguana swam alongside us for ages, sally lightfoot crabs were hanging out on the rocks with the penguins.
This is free to do, but the other option is to take a tour and get to go to Las Tintoreras as well. You can only do this on a tour and its highly recommended as well.
13. Hike the Massive Crater of Sierra Negra Volcano
Paid tour only – Hiking / Scenery
For a break from the beach, head into Isabela’s highlands to hike the Sierra Negra Volcano. It is the second-largest volcanic caldera on earth – nearly 10 kilometers across.
Be aware you do walk 16 km, so it will be a bit tough if you are very unfit. But the views over the desolate and ‘dark’ red and black crater are absolutely worth it. As is seeing its little offspring – Chico Volcano! You have to do this with a guide.
There is also an option that focuses on the steaming sulphur mines and landscape in the volcano, and an option to horse ride through it all! These are all highly rated recommended tours:
- Galapagos Hiking excursion to Sierra Negra Volcano & Lava Fields (that I recommend),
- Puerto Villamil: Hiking Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano
- Isabela Island Wonders: Sulphur mine + Agro Tour Experience
- Galapagos horseback riding: ridges of Sierra Negra Volcano
14. Rent a bike and ride to the Wall of Tears
Cost of bike rental only – Hiking / Scenery / Wildlife
Honestly it would make you weep – what happened here!
The Wall of Tears itself, is a monstrous stone wall built between 1946 and 1959 by inmates of the former Isabela Prison for no other purpose than to be punished. They had to quarry the stone, break it up, and then build the wall. Conditions were horribly harsh – think of the heat alone, let alone diseases like tuberculosis and the food and water shortages on the island.
in 1958 the prisoners staged a rebellion, killing all the guards and hijacking an American yacht which they escaped on. They were never to be heard of again so nobody knows if they survived or not. The Ecuadorian authorities finally closed the Isabela penal colony a year later.
Brutal and horrible, but the cycle here, being stopped by road traffic – giant tortoises, seeing the wall itself, the wetlands and beaches on the way, and climbing the viewpoints make this a really worthwhile way to spend a good part of the day.
15. Spot Pink Flamingos at the Salt Lagoons
Free – Wildlife / Scenery
Just beside Puerto Villamil, you will find Flamingo Lake – with a network of wooden boardwalks over saltwater marshes. The flamingos you see here are a very deep color – the food there must be good! If you visit early in the morning or right at dusk, you can watch the flamingos wading through the shallow waters filtering for shrimp. Quiet and peaceful!
That’s the unmissable list – start with this and add to it with these posts to get your bucket list organised for your trip!
- 14 brilliant wild things to do on Isabela Island in the Galapagos
- 10+ fantastic wild things to do on Santa Cruz – the Galapagos Islands
- The 12 best wild things to do on San Cristobal in the Galapagos
A 2-week itinerary with the 15 unmissable things to do!
Day 1 – Arrive in San Cristobal, enjoy the local wildlife. Walk to Tijeretas Hill. On the way visit the Galapagos Interpretation Center. If you have time swim at Muelle Tijeretas.
Day 2 – 360 island and kicker Rock tour.
Day 3 – Highland Tour, hike EL Junco, visit Giant Tortoises, swim at Play Puerto Chino
Day 4 – Snorkel at La Loberia, enjoy all the beaches and wildlife in town, kayak the harbor, relax at Playa Mann for sunset
Day 5 – Fly to Isabela early (if you can afford the cost – otherwise go to Sant Cruz then Isabela). Enjoy the wildlife in and around the beach and jetty in town. Snorkel at Concha de Perla.
Day 6 – Los Tuneles tour.
Day 7 – Cycle to Wall of Tears via the beaches, lookouts, and wetlands.
Day 8 – Sierra Negra Volcano tour.
Day 9 – Do another tour eg Trillizos Volcano Tour or Las Tintoreras (see 14 brilliant wild things to do on Isabela Island in the Galapagos) or relax and enjoy the free things to do around town.
Day 10 – Take the morning ferry to Santa Cruz. Swim at Las Grietas. Walk the town and enjoy the fish market.
Day 11 – Day trip to North Seymour or Bartolome Islands
Day 12 – Walk to Tortuga Bay and snorkel or kayak with the sharks.
Day 13 – Do a Highlands tour or hire a bike and explore the highlands alone, or, take a second day trip.
Day 14 – Do a highlands tour on the way to your flight, or enjoy the time left shopping or exploring another beach before you fly.
Things to pack for the Galapagos
- Cash! The ATMs can run out of cash (especially in weekends) and not everyone accepts cards. They may also refuse to take or give change for $50 or $100 notes. Keep your notes small.
- Sunglasses, sun hat and sunscreen (reef safe – I like ocean potion).
- Good and comfortable walking / hiking shoes.
- Mosquito repellent (deet free) – during rainy season in particular. Its needed against horseflies as well – especially at sunset! Also lightweight clothes that cover arms and legs as protection.
- A water bottle with a filter like the LifeStraw to cut down on single-use plastic waste, which is heavily discouraged on the islands.
- Your camera and power bank for day trips! Plus a water-proof pouch for your phone. You’re going to be snapping pics a lot!
- Rash suit, wetsuit (if prone to cold), and swimsuit. Water shoes can be useful too.
- A sand-free quick drying towel.
- Seasickness medication if you are that way inclined – like me!
Where to stay in the Galapagos
Book a hotel with booking.com or a hostel with Hostelworld on each of the islands.
As always there is a lot of choice, but these recommendations are a good place to start. They all have very high review ratings!
Puerto Ayora and Santa Cruz Island
High End – Hotel Angermeyer Waterfront Inn or Hotel Villa Escalesia Galapagos
Whole villa – the 4 bed Blue Heron Galápagos Villa
Mid Range – Plaza Luna Suites or Galapagos Chalet, or out of town near the tortoises, the Enchanted Galapagos Lodge
Good Value – Lonesome George Ecolodge, or Coral Apartments, or Maytenus Galapagos
Budget / hostel – Galapagos Dreams or Hostal Vista al Mar
Puerto Villamil and Isabela Island
High End – Cormorant Beach House or Mi Playa Galapagos Beachfront Apartments
An entire Villa – Casa Baronesa or Yellow Heron House
Mid Range – The Isabela Beach House or Flip Flop House
Great Value – Galápagos Isabela Hotel Loja (4 beds) or Hotel StarFish, or Casa Almendro
Budget – Hostal Galapagos by Bar de Beto, or OASIS JENY Apartamento
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and San Cristobal Island
High End – Golden Bay Galapagos or this villa – Bahía Gardner Apartment
Mid Range – Hotel Casa Blanca or Suites en el paraíso San Cristóbal Galápagos
Good Value – Hostal Gosen or Hostal Pimampiro (for small families or couples / friends), or Hostal La Posada De Jose Carlos
Budget / hostel – Casa Alexita or Casa Puka
Travel Tips for the Galapagos
- Fly to the easiest airport arrival ever: Its a great option to start your trip by flying into San Cristobal, and flying out of Santa Cruz! It saves you an extra backtracking ferry ride! Also, in Santa Cruz the journey from the airport takes an hour and involves multiple buses and a ferry, but San Cristóbal’s airport (SCY) is right on the edge of the main town, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and you can literally walk into town in 10-15 minutes, or take a quick 2-minute pickup-truck taxi for a couple of dollars!
- Don’t bring fresh food, nuts or seeds: They will be confiscated. Also do not try and take any of these things between the islands when you are there – they will be confiscated again!
- Bring your snorkel gear: There are plenty of snorkeling day tours and free options as well. Its best to have your own gear that you know fits and works!
- Cheap eats: Visit the markets for cheap meals and fresh produce! Also look for the almuerzo (large lunch for a set basic price) at local restaurants.
- Keep to the Sea Lion distance rule: While they might look cute and clumsy, the sea lions on San Cristóbal are wild animals. Alpha bulls can guard their territories aggressively, especially during mating seasons. Always keep 2 meters (6-foot) between you and them – and never get between a sea lion and the water!
- Bring cash: There are some reliable ATMs on Santa Crua and San Cristobal, but they can run out of cash near the end of the week. Bring US dollars in cash – especially small bills ($5, $10, $20) for taxis, eating out etc.
- No car or scooter hire: You cannot hire a car or scooter in the Galapagos. There are basic pick up trucks / taxis that can take you wherever you need to go. A lot of places are easy to walk to too.
- Camping is possible: You can camp on the island – read How to camp on the Galapagos Islands for more info!
Frequently asked questions about travel to the Galapagos
Q: Is it better to fly into San Cristóbal or Baltra (Santa Cruz)?
A: If you are doing an independent island-hopping trip, the absolute best strategy is to fly into San Cristóbal and fly out of Baltra (or vice versa). This saves you from an extra (often unpleasant) boat ride backwards just to catch your flight home, saving you time and money. Personally I would fly into San Cristobal first, and if I had the money fly to Isabela next, then go to Santa Cruz.
Q: What is the best way to get to Puerto Ayora from Baltra Airport?
A: After landing, you take a public bus to the Itabaca Channel ferry dock. You then pay for a ferry to cross the channel to Santa Cruz (a 10-minute boat ride). Once on Santa Cruz, you can either take a local public bus to town or hire a white pickup-truck taxi which works out about the same price if there is a group of you. It takes around 45 minutes. Have $20-30 cash for the journey.
Alternatively book a Transfer Airport-hotel in Galapagos Santa Cruz with visit to Giant Tortoises.
Q: How much is the Galapagos National Park entry fee now?
A: The standard entrance conservation fee is $200 USD per foreign adult ($100 for children under 12). This must be paid in cash as soon as you arrive. No credit cards are accepted at the park gates.
Q: Is it better to stay on Santa Cruz or book a cruise?
A: A land-based stay on Santa Cruz is significantly cheaper, gives you total freedom over your daily schedule, and gives you access to excellent restaurants and nightlife. A cruise is much more expensive but allows you to reach highly isolated, uninhabited islands that land-based tourists are legally barred from visiting. You can do a mix of both – although I was very satisfied with visiting the all the islands you can stay on without a cruise.
Q: Are there functional ATMs and card services in the Galapagos?
A: Yes, there are ATMs on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. But sometimes they run completely out of cash e.g. during busy weekends or when tour boat groups arrive. Credit cards are accepted at high-end spots, but cash is needed for day to day things. Take plenty of cash for Isabela as card services there are much more unreliable.
Q: Can I see wildlife without a guide or expensive day trips?
A: Yes, absolutely – there are plenty of sealions, blue footed boobies and marine iguanas around especially in Isabela and San Cristobal. You can also see penguins, giant tortoises, and flamingos on these islands without a tour.
Q: Can I drink the tap water?
A: No – and its best to clean your teeth with filtered or bottled water too.
Q: How bad is the WiFi and internet connection in the Galapagos?
A: It has dramatically improved! Older travel guides will tell you the internet situation is bad, but Starlink has rolled out across the islands now and most hotels, hostels, and restaurants in the main towns have fast, reliable WiFi. However, still keep these things in mind:
*The cell service drops out quickly outside of the main town limits.
*Even with Starlink, hotel networks are shared among dozens of guests. Speeds can drop noticeably in the evenings when everyone returns from tours and hops online at the same time.
*Its still best to download any big items that you need before you fly.
Q: Are drones allowed in the Galapagos?
A: No. Flying recreational drones is strictly illegal throughout the entire Galapagos National Park, including the beaches and towns of Isabela, to protect the native birdlife and wildlife from stress. Only specialized commercial cinematographers with pre-approved, expensive permits from the National Park Directorate are allowed to operate them.
Related Posts
14 brilliant wild things to do on Isabela Island in the Galapagos
10+ fantastic wild things to do on Santa Cruz – the Galapagos Islands
The 12 best wild things to do on San Cristobal in the Galapagos
7, 10, 14 and 20 day itineraries for the Galapagos Islands!
How to camp on the Galapagos Islands!
How to visit the Galapagos Islands on a budget!
Comments (2)
Gayle McKnight
August 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Fantastic review. Can’t wait to visit
Sydney
August 7, 2025 at 9:03 pm
Awesome to hear – when are you going?