Things to Do in Galapagos Islands

Snorkel with sea lions at Gardner Bay

You roll off the panga into Gardner Bay's cold punch. Sea lion pups squeak first, silver blurs next. They blow bubbles, nip fins. Visibility: 30 meters of liquid glass. An eagle ray glides beneath like a shadow.

Sunset booze cruise from Puerto Ayora

Sea lions drape the pier like gray sofas. Pelicans dive-bomb the market. The catamaran cocktail mixes aguardiente, passion fruit, purple tongue dye. Sky bruises while lights twinkle in Academy Bay. Stars punch pinholes in dark fabric.

Hike Bartolomé's lunar landscape

The boardwalk climbs through red lava fields. Pioneer plants grip like desperate fingers. 374 steps. Calves burn. Pinnacle Rock juts like a broken tooth. Wind whips grit. Sullivan Bay's lava looks fresh from yesterday.

Post Office Bay tradition

The barrel looks dull until you read 1793. Postcards from Germany, Japan, Ohio wait. Ghost crabs scuttle. Sand squeaks. Driftwood and diesel hang in the air.

Highland giant tortoise safari

Highlands smell of damp earth and fermenting guava. Tortoises loom like moving boulders. Shells thunk when they mate. You hear the prehistoric hiss first. Leather suitcases closing.

Stay near Puerto Ayora's fish market. Wake to sea lion barks and pelican wings.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno offers quiet streets and fewer tour groups.

Puerto Villamil has beachfront hostels and routine power cuts.

Finch Bay gives resort calm, 10-minute water taxi to town.

Casa Natura in the Santa Cruz highlands for tortoise-watching from your hammock

Casa Playa Mann for budget rooms steps from San Cristóbal's best swimming beach