A large sea turtle swims underwater beside snorkelers near Los Túneles on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands. Snorkeling with sea turtles was one of the most unforgettable things we did during our 30 days island-hopping in the Galapagos Islands.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

The Galapagos Islands are a true Bucket List destination where wildlife, volcanic landscapes, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences come together.

The Galapagos Islands are one of those rare places that truly feel unlike anywhere else in the world. Part of Ecuador, the Galapagos sit in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles off the coast of mainland South America. They are an UNESCO site, famous for wildlife, volcanic landscapes, clear blue water, snorkeling, sea lions, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and those surreal “is this real life?” nature moments.

If the Galapagos Islands are on your Bucket List, this page is here to help you plan a trip that feels inspiring instead of overwhelming. Bill and I spent 30 days island-hopping through Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristobal, doing a mix of guided tours and free self-guided activities. Now I’m sharing all the practical things we learned along the way.

A wide sandy beach stretches toward turquoise water with driftwood, low shrubs, and a lone person walking near the shoreline under a bright blue sky. This shows the quieter coastal scenery near La Playita, part of the free hiking experience in the Humedales on Isabela Island.

With these guides, you’ll learn the ins and outs of how to get there, how the ferries work, where to stay, what tours are worth booking, what to pack, how much it cost, and the free or low-cost experiences that made the trip even better. All of these first-hand tips will make planning your own Ecuador island adventure easier.

A large marine iguana slowly walks across the sand at Playa Isabela. Wildlife constantly appears around town on Isabela Island, even during casual beach walks.

Galapagos Island Guides

    More Galapagos Guides – COMING SOON!

    Here are some more posts about visiting the Galapagos Islands. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.

    Overall Galapagos Planning Guides

    Santa Cruz Island Galapagos Guides

    Isabela Island Galapagos Guides

    San Cristobal Island Galapagos Guides

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