How will you see the Galápagos?

The wildlife brings you here. Where you sleep shapes the islands you can reach.

Marine iguana · Las Bachas, Santa CruzDiego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo · Licence

Cruise or land-based: start with the visits

Choose a naturalist cruise for its named visitor sites, or stay in an island town and take local outings. Start with the places you want to visit.

Choose a town base for local visits

Stay in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz for Tortuga Bay, the Research Station and highland tortoise visits. San Cristóbal is a different base for its own coast and León Dormido excursions. Add islands for specific visits, not just a longer itinerary.

Santa Cruz
San Cristóbal
Isabela

You choose: A hotel base and individual excursions
Trade-off: More control over evenings; a smaller visitor-site range

Read the Santa Cruz and Puerto Ayora base guide

A naturalist cruise and a specialist diving itinerary are different products. Check what your actual programme includes.

Put the decisions in the right order

Choose cruise or hotel-based travel first. Then match visitor sites, overnight bases and arrival airports before paying for flights. Our first-trip guide separates the bookings from entry preparation and responsible visiting.

Read the Galápagos first-trip guide

Before choosing a programme

Read the island list

A Galápagos label does not tell you which islands or visitor sites a programme reaches.

Separate the costs

Ask which park charges, transfers and guided activities sit outside the quoted package.

Match the activity

Check authorisation and the exact programme for diving; do not infer it from a naturalist cruise description.