What You Can Expect to See While Snorkelling the Galapagos Islands

When it comes to snorkelling, there aren’t many better locations on the planet than the Galapagos Islands. When snorkelling, you want a pristine beach, clear waters, and beautiful animals – you’re guaranteed all three in the Galapagos Islands. As an archipelago in Ecuador, you’re sure to create memories that last a lifetime. 

What can you expect to see? Here’s just some of the wildlife on offer! 

Whales

While you shouldn’t expect to see whales when snorkelling in the Galapagos Islands, this goes into the ‘things I’ll hopefully see’ pile. If you’re lucky enough, you may just see one of the greatest natural sights in the animal kingdom as a whale leaps out of the water. If you’re fortunate enough to take a Galapagos cruise, your chances of seeing a whale in the wild will definitely increase. But even if you are snorkeling off the shoreline, you may be lucky enough to see these amazing creatures in the wild. 

If this is the most important aspect of your trip, keep in mind that whales are most commonly in Ecuadorian waters between July and November since this is their mating season.

Sea Lions

Back to what you should expect to see, sea lions are everywhere around the Galapagos Islands and they’ll become your friends as you spend more and more time in the water. If you get bored of seeing normal sea lions (although this is almost impossible!), keep your eyes peeled for the rarer albino sea lion. 

They might look friendly, but we recommend keeping some distance between yourself and the sea lion. Not only are they territorial, but they can also glide much better through the water than you can. If baby sea lions make their way over to you, have a play but do not touch them (otherwise, it won’t be long before the mother is on your case!). 

Green Sea Turtles

Green sea turtles are often seen as the ultimate snorkelling buddy and one of the reasons is that they’re so easy to spot. Every so often, they break the surface to find air. As long as you’re looking out, you’ll soon spot them. Whether in coves or in the open, they aren’t as quick as sea lions and are much more receptive to humans. 

Marine Iguanas

That’s right – this is an iguana that has evolved to swim in the water. No, this isn’t an April Fool’s Day prank. These iguanas spend a significant amount of time on land, but they also go into the water to look for algae. As they swim, watch their long tails as they keep the iguana on the right path. If you’re looking for a truly unique snorkelling experience, this is it because you won’t find the marine iguana anywhere else in the world. 

Other Animals

Although these are four of the biggest, you might also come across the following: 

• Sea Horses – Graceful, elegant, and beautiful – you may see sea horses while snorkelling in the Galapagos Islands. Up to 30cm in height, the clean water makes them easy to spot. 
• Galapagos Penguins – Much like the whales, you may need luck on your side if you’re to see the Galapagos penguin, but it’s impossible to leave them out of this list when they’re named after the islands. Normally, penguins need cooler climates, but this is the only species in the tropics. 
• Exotic Fish – Even if you miss the big species in this list, you’re guaranteed to see all sorts of exotic fish. You won’t believe the colours and patterns when these exotic species swim by. 
• Sharks – Lastly, some tour operators may take you close to sharks (if persuaded!). In particular, reef sharks swim along the ocean floor and they don’t typically have an interest in humans. As long as you keep your distance, it’s a majestic sight. 

You may like this

• 7 Travel Destinations Every Hiker Needs on Their Bucket List
• Tips to Make Your Forest Travel Tour Successful
• 7 Reasons to Travel with Your Family