Discover the amazing and fearless wildlife that you can see on a fascinating visit to the Galapagos Islands.
Request a Brochure
South America
Sally lightfoot crab
Though not as famous as the Galapagos land creatures, the marine life around the islands is every bit as impressive. From the capering sealions to the menacing schools of hammerheads that patrol the depths, there is an almost limitless variety of life beneath the waves.
Brightly coloured crabs that are commonly seen along rocky shores on all the central and western islands.
They are mainly scavengers but play a crucial role in keeping the archipelago’s beaches clean.
Where found: On rocky shores on the central and western islands.
The tortoise’s marine equivalent are the four species of turtles in the Galapagos, which you may be lucky enough to see paddling in the depths while out with your snorkel and fins. They are often seen in secluded lagoons during the later part of the year when they return for mating. Research shows that they have incredible navigational skills as the female returns each year to the beach on which she hatched to lay her own eggs.
Where found: Seen in the waters around the Galapagos Islands.
Over 450 species of fish have so far been recorded - 17% of them unique to the archipelago - ranging from the leviathan whale shark, magnificent manta rays and huge sunfish to tiny gobies and Pacific seahorses. There are over 12 species of sharks with no known attacks on man, 2 species of hammerheads, 5 species of rays (stingrays, golden ray, marbled ray, spotted eagle ray and manta rays), 18 types of morays, the more common tiger shark, black-tip shark and the whale and grey reef shark. In addition there are numerous starfish, urchins and crustaceans as well as sea cucumbers bobbing around.
Whales and dolphins proliferate after nearly being hunted to local extinction, while turtles also visit. There is the unique marine iguana, which swims to the ocean floor to graze, and also the world’s most northerly colony of penguins, which came all the way up to the equator on the cold Humboldt Current that also brings rich nutrients and is the basis for the thriving submarine ecosystem.
For those with diving experience there is no more magical place in the world. Unfortunately, currents and low temperatures make much of the ocean around the Galapagos unsuitable for novice scuba divers, but much of the marine life is found less than 60 feet down, there are plenty of snorkel spots for good swimmers and glass-bottom boats for those who don’t want to get their feet wet at all.