The Wildlife of the Galápagos

The wildlife of the Galápagos Islands is the reason people from all over the world make a pilgrimage here. There is no other place on Earth where wildlife is so accessible, diverse, and unique. Here are the stars of the archipelago:

The Big Five of the Galápagos

• Galápagos Giant Tortoise — The emblem of the islands and the namesake (galápago = tortoise). Weighing up to 250 kg and over 150 years old. Each island has its own subspecies with different shell shapes. Observed up close in breeding stations and the highlands of Santa Cruz.
• Marine Iguana — The only sea lizard in the world. Black, prehistoric, and capable of diving underwater for up to 30 minutes to eat algae. They snort salt through special glands — creating the white spots on their heads. Most common on Fernandina and Isabela.
• Blue-footed Booby — The most iconic bird of the Galápagos with its bright blue feet. Males display their feet in a "dance" to the females — the bluer the feet, the more attractive. Best observed on North Seymour and Española.
• Galápagos Sea Lion — Everywhere. On benches, boats, beaches, docks. The playful animals snorkel with you, pose for photos, and bark all night long. An estimated 50,000 animals live on the archipelago.
• Galápagos Penguin — The only penguin living north of the equator. At just 35 cm, the second smallest penguin in the world. Survives here thanks to the cold Humboldt and Cromwell currents. Best seen on Isabela and Bartolomé.

Other Stars

• Darwin's Finches — The 13 species of finches that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution. Each species has a different beak, adapted to its food source. A living textbook of natural selection.
• Flightless Cormorant — Only on Fernandina and Isabela. Lost its ability to fly because there were no predators on land — its wings are tiny stubs. However, it is an excellent swimmer and diver.
• Galápagos Albatross — The majestic seabirds (wingspan: 2.4 m) breed exclusively on Española — from April to December. Their courtship dance is one of the most impressive natural spectacles of the islands.
• Sea Turtles — Green sea turtles are regularly seen while snorkeling. They glide in slow motion through the crystal-clear water — a meditative moment.
• Hammerhead Sharks — Large schools of hammerhead sharks live in the waters around Kicker Rock (León Dormido) and the northern islands Wolf and Darwin — the ultimate experience for divers.

The remarkable thing: All these animals are neither shy nor aggressive. They simply ignore you. You can sit on the ground and watch a blue-footed booby incubate its egg while a sea lion naps beside you. This proximity to wildlife is found nowhere else on the planet.