Back

Wildlife watching in the Galapagos

ecu16-wildlife-watching-in-the-galapagos-jl-free

Stroll with sea birds and snorkel with penguins, sea lions and marine iguanas on guided expeditions in the pristine natural wonderland of the Galápagos.

Imagine a natural sanctuary where giant tortoises plod beside marine iguanas, while penguins and sea lions dart through an ocean brimming with tropical marine life... Welcome to the Galápagos Islands, where wildlife enjoys a fearless existence free from predators and unthreatened by man.

No matter which islands you visit, you'll see wildlife in huge numbers and from very close range – these exotic creatures are completely unfazed by your presence. You can walk among languid colonies of iguanas and sea birds, snorkel with playful sea lions and watch blue-footed boobies perform their delightful mating dance right before your eyes. Between June and October there’s even a chance of sighting humpback whales breaching beside your boat.

Each island is surprisingly different to the next, both geographically and ecologically, and we can help you choose an itinerary that visits particular habitats if you are keen to see a specific species. However the truth is that there isn't a corner of the archipelago that won't enchant wildlife lovers, and the simple privilege of sharing this unique environment with the creatures who call it home is enough to make any visit a richly rewarding experience.

Galapagos Islands
Isabela (Albemarle)

Holidays Wildlife watching in the Galapagos

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Sea lions on a sandy beach in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

Signature Galapagos

7 days from £4,550pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Bartolome Island in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

Signature Galapagos: Island hopping

10 days from £7,900pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Sea lion sunbathing on rocks in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands / Peru

Value Galapagos and Peru

13 days from £5,000pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Snow covered peak of Cotopaxi volcano in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

Walking in Ecuador and Galapagos

12 days from £5,600pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Quasar Grace boat heading towards rocky islands

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

Luxury Galapagos Islands cruise

10 days from £11,100pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

0 1 2 3 4 5