Even those who have seen pictures of the Galapagos Islands before visiting will not be prepared for the huge numbers of sealions on almost every beach. Differentiated from seals by their external ears and method of moving on land, the Galapagos sea lions are irresistible to look at but the larger males in particular must be treated with appropriate respect, especially in the mating season between May and January or when the female is nursing her pups.
Most often seen basking in the sun on rocks or sand after a hard fishing session, the sea lions are totally different creatures in the water. Transformed from awkward land animals into graceful, agile swimmers, they will swoop playfully around you as you snorkel in their midst, and love to surface repeatedly around your dinghy.
The fur seal is less commonly spotted due to its nocturnal habits (preferring to hide away in sheltered caves during the day) and is not as gregarious as its larger cousins. Visitors may also be lucky enough to spot whales and dolphins around the islands if the time of year is right. The most commonly seen bottlenose dolphins love to follow your vessel and delight onlookers with their playful displays.