Frequently Asked Questions about the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands lie approximately 570 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The archipelago sits on both sides of the equator with some of its islands in the southern hemisphere and the others in the north. One of the archipelago's most active islands, Isla Isabela, is located on the equator itself.

The remoteness of the Galápagos Islands, combined with their unforgiving landscapes and lack of fresh water meant that they were unhabituated by people until relatively recently. This allowed species to thrive undisturbed by humans and helped create one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet today.

Prior to colonisation in the 1800s, the Galápagos Islands were visited mainly by pirates and whalers with devastating impacts on some populations of native species such as tortoises, which were eaten.

The best way to get to the Galápagos Islands is to take a flight from Quito in Ecuador to Baltra Island. You can fly to Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport from a variety of locations across the globe including the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.  

With Hurtigruten Expeditions, we offer complete tours of the Galápagos Islands. Fly to Quito and then join our tour to Baltra Island, in the Galápagos, where you'll step aboard your expedition vessel to cruise and explore the islands. If you also want to combine a tour of Galapagos with some of the highlights of South America, such as visiting the Lost City of the Incas and Quito, then check out our 17-day tour to the Galápagos Islands and National Parks of South America.

The Galápagos Islands were created millions of years ago when a series of powerful underwater volcanic eruptions spewed out magma that gradually pushed up and solidified to form the archipelago.

Sitting upon the Nazca tectonic plate, the area of the Earth’s crust beneath the islands is known as the Galápagos Hot Spot, and it’s an area of significant volcanic activity. The continuous movement of tectonic plates under and around the Galápagos, and the resulting eruptions, have formed these rugged, mountainous islands over the years, one layer at a time.

Even today the Galápagos Islands are quite active. Most of the main isles are volcanoes, and Isabella is a cluster of six. The most recent eruptions on the Galápagos Islands were La Cumbre on Fernandina in 2020 and Sierra Negra on Isabela in 2018.

The Galápagos Islands are part of the South American country of Ecuador. The archipelago was claimed by Ecuador back in 1832 shortly before Charles Darwin made his famous voyage there.

The Galápagos Islands were declared an official province of Ecuador in 1973 and have a provincial government. They are split into three main districts: Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela.

Prior to 1832, the Galápagos Islands were owned by Spain, following Fray Tomás de Berlanga’s discovery of them back in the 1500s. Very few people lived there until the 1800s though because of the barren nature of the land, which is why so many endemic species have survived in comparison to other parts of the world.

Yes, approximately 25,000 people live in the Galápagos Islands today. However, people only live on four of the 13 larger islands – Isabela, San Cristóbal, Floreana and Santa Cruz. The other islands in the Galápagos have been designated National Parks since 1959.

Santa Cruz is the most populated island with around 18,000 inhabitants and Isabela is home to around 1,800 people. The capital of the Galápagos Islands, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is on San Cristóbal Island, which has a population of around 6,000. Floreana is the smallest populated island at just 70 sq. mi and only around 100 people live there. Some military personnel also live on Baltra Island.

The colonisation of the isolated Galápagos only began in the mid-1800s following Ecuador’s claim to the islands, with many European settlers following in the 1920s.

Galápagos giant tortoises are some of the longest surviving reptiles on the planet. They can live for up to 100 years – and some live even longer. The world-famous giant tortoise Harriet, who was allegedly collected from the Galápagos by Charles Darwin himself in 1835, lived to an impressive 175 years of age. Harriet finally passed away in 2006.

Lonesome George was another long-living Galápagos giant tortoise. Famed for being the last of his species, George lived until around 100 at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island.

It’s believed that Galápagos giant tortoises live so long because of their genetics. Studies have shown they have certain genes which affect their DNA repair, immune system responses and ability to fight cancers.

The English naturalist Charles Darwin famously visited the Galápagos Islands in 1835 and his observations there inspired his ground-breaking book On the Origin of Species. He spent five years exploring and studying the flora and fauna of South America aboard HMS Beagle and arrived at the Galápagos Islands in September 1835.

He spent five weeks there, exploring the various islands, observing their ecosystems, and collecting samples of plants, animals, birds and reptiles to study back in England. While there, he noticed how different species had adapted to the various island environments, which led to his renowned theory of evolution. Darwin noted the different species of finches whose beak shapes had evolved in line with the food sources available on each island.

There are 127 islands in the Galápagos archipelago, ranging from large, inhabited islands to small rock formations. There are 13 larger islands but only four are populated by people (Isabela, San Cristóbal, Floreana and Santa Cruz.) and the others are part of the National Park.

The largest of the Galápagos Islands is Isabela at around 1,700 sq. mi – four times the size of the second-largest island Santa Cruz. This rugged island was created when six volcanoes joined together and today, five of them remain active. Isabela is home to a large population of Galápagos tortoises.

Darwin (or Culpepper) Island is one of the smallest islands at less than 1 sq. mi, and it can only be explored by sea.

There are so many adventurous activities to do in the Galápagos Islands. Wildlife watching is usually at the top of a Galápagos explorer’s list. These remote and untouched islands are home to many endemic species. From giant tortoises to marine iguanas, you’ll have the opportunity to see some of the ‘Big 15’ species there.

Expedition boat cruises are the ideal way to get to the more secluded spots. You can see marine life on the way and have unforgettable encounters with tame land animals.

Guided nature walks and hikes are perfect for those who want to learn more about these magical islands. Or you could get in the water and try some snorkelling or kayaking.

And with a Galápagos Islands cruise, you can even participate in global science projects or delve deeper in the lab with our onboard Science Programme.

The Galápagos Islands were discovered by the Bishop of Panama, Fray Tomás de Berlanga, in the 16th century. The Spaniard was sent on a mission to Peru but was pushed off course by strong winds and the current, accidentally arriving at the deserted Galápagos archipelago in 1535. He didn’t stick around though as the rocky landscape and lack of fresh water made staying there difficult.

The islands first appeared on a map of the Spanish New World in 1570. The map referred to the islands as “Insulae de los Galopegos" – meaning “Islands of the Tortoises” after the giant tortoises that lived there.

Being in the tropics, it’s always a good time to visit the Galápagos Islands, and there’s an array of extraordinary wildlife to discover all year round.

As the Galápagos Islands sit on the equator, the temperature doesn’t vary significantly throughout the year. January to May are the warmer months, but it’s also the rainy season. June to December are drier with marginally lower temperatures.

The sea is at its warmest in the early part of the year, making it a great time to get in the water and spot marine life. It’s also the breeding season for many birds, land animals and reptiles like the Galápagos giant tortoise.

The lower temperatures from June bring rougher seas and the beginning of the garúa – or sea mist – season. This cooler period is the ideal time to see whales, dolphins and penguins, who will be feasting on the bounty of the seas around the islands.

Hurtigruten Expeditions offer unforgettable cruises to the Galápagos Islands all year round.

The best Galápagos itinerary will be one that showcases all that these magical islands have to offer.

At Hurtigruten Expeditions, our Galápagos itineraries include:

• Mosquera Islet, where you can see one of the largest colonies of sea lions in the Galápagos.
• San Cristóbal, to visit a giant tortoise breeding centre and the booby colonies at Punta Pitt.
• Blissful Santa Fe, with its white sandy beaches, sea lions and land iguanas.
• South Plaza Island, to see stunning native flora and magnificent birds like Frigatebirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls and Shearwaters.
• Santa Cruz, where you can visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, see giant tortoises and kayak around Tortuga Bay.
• Española, to see the renowned Waved Albatross.
• Eden Islet, where you can snorkel in the turquoise waters.
• North Seymour, to see fascinating endemic birds and marine iguanas.

Our itineraries cover north, east and west routes around the islands, and many include several days at the start in Ecuador and Peru, where you’ll visit places such as Machu Picchu and Cusco, the old capital of the Incas. For more information on the itineraries we offer, visit our Galápagos Islands cruises page.

Galápagos Penguins eat small fish such as sardines and anchovies. Although you would typically associate these flightless birds with the cooler climes of the polar regions, the Galápagos Penguin manages to survive so far north thanks to the abundance of fish available around the archipelago.

The fish that Galápagos Penguins eat are brought into the area thanks to the cold waters of the Humboldt Current which travels north up the west coast of South America, bringing with it large amounts of marine life.

Given their reliance on ocean currents to bring in food sources, Galápagos Penguins are very vulnerable to climate change. The warming seas caused by every El Niño event reduces fish numbers dramatically, and in the past has caused Galápagos Penguins to starve.

The Galápagos Islands are so uniquely diverse that there’s a wide variety of fascinating wildlife to see there. Here are the ‘Big 15’ iconic species that you can spot:

1. The Flightless Cormorant with its unique mating rituals
2. The agile and determined Red-footed Booby
3. The formidable Galápagos Hawk
4. Marine iguanas that feed underwater and on land
5. The brightly coloured Galápagos Flamingo
6. The Galápagos Albatross of Española Island
7. Blue-footed Boobies with their characteristic blue feet
8. The biggest of the booby family, the Nazca Booby
9. The abundant Galápagos sea lion
10. The camouflaging Santa Fe iguana
11. The Galápagos Penguin - the only one that lives north of the equator
12. The Greater Frigatebird with its trademark red throat
13. The rare Galápagos fur seal
14. The large Galápagos land iguana
15. The iconic and endangered Galápagos giant tortoise

There are so many must-see Galápagos Islands, but our top four cover some of the best wildlife spots in the archipelago.

Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station where you can see baby tortoises and Darwin’s famous finches.

San Cristóbal
On San Cristóbal, you can visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve to see the thriving giant tortoise population, as well as native species like the San Cristóbal lava lizard and San Cristóbal Mockingbird.

Española
From March to January, most of the world’s Waved Albatrosses congregate on Española to breed, so this island is a must-see for bird lovers. Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies and Swallow-tailed Gulls can also be found here.

North Seymour
North Seymour is rich in wildlife too. In the air, you can spot Frigatebirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls and Blue-footed Boobies. On land, sea lions and iguanas abound.