The Top 10 Things to Do in Galápagos​​

2. Meet the Galápagos Giant Tortoise

The Galápagos giant tortoise is synonymous with these islands which are actually named for the remarkable reptiles. On Santa Cruz, you'll delve into their fascinating world on a visit to the famed Charles Darwin Research Center. Here, you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about giant tortoises, from how long they can live to how they ended up in one of the most remote places on earth, plus, witness conservation in action as you spot dozens of newborn hatchlings in the breeding program. Cap off the afternoon as you head up to the lush, grassy highlands to Rancho Manzanillo, one of the best places to walk among these gentle giants in the wild.

4. Explore the Rich Undersea World

In 2022, Galápagos announced they expanded the Galápagos Marine Reserve, which means undersea animals are better protected now than ever before. This is one of the best places in the world for nesting green sea turtles, and it is a key area for their conservation as the islands also provide numerous feeding sites for this species. It's also one of few places in the world where you can swim with penguins. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Don your snorkel or dive gear and you'll find yourself immersed in an underwater paradise that is ruled by the animals. Look for marine iguanas, spotted eagle rays, stingrays, sally lightfoot crabs, white-tipped reef sharks, hammerheads, a swath of colorful fish and of course, curious sea lions who may stop by for a closer look.    

6. Walk in the Footsteps of History

Darwin isn’t the only luminary to have brought the Galápagos into the public imagination. Pack a copy of Herman Melville’s The Encantadas in your luggage to see the islands through the eyes of the famed Moby Dick author. If you’re interested in the seedy side of Galápagos history, cruise along the red cliffs overlooking Buccaneer Cove on Santiago Island, where 17th and 18th century buccaneers hid out when they were up to no good.

If you’re more interested in what the good guys were up to during that era, Post Office Bay in Floreana is a local oddity devised in the 1700s by whalers passing through the islands to provision their ships. They devised a way to communicate with their loved ones back home, leaving letters in a barrel on Floreana and picking up whatever letters they found that matched their destination to deliver upon arrival. It could take years to deliver a letter back then, but the Galápagos Post Office Bay moves a little faster these days. Galápagos visitors still drop off postcards and letters at Post Office Bay, and other visitors take them back to the mainland for mailing. You can be the latest link in a tradition going back centuries for the cost of a single stamp!

8. Photograph Kicker Rock

One of Galápagos’ most amazing landmarks, Kicker Rock rises straight out of the water near San Cristobal Island. Also called Leon Dormido (or "Sleeping Lion"), it’s a remnant of volcanic activity known as a tuff cone—a steep vertical formation of ash, this one rising 500 feet out of the sea. As it’s eroded into its current form, it’s become an iconic destination for photographers who love to test their skills and catch its contours in the warm pink light of the sunset. With help from a National Geographic certified photo instructor, you can be sure to capture the ideal shot with the sun's rays lining up just so with the breaks in the formation.

10. Experience Life on the Mainland

Many travelers to Galápagos will pass through Quito, giving you the chance to see more of the region and enhance your voyage to the islands. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 alongside Galápagos, Quito’s 16th-century historic center is the largest and best preserved in Latin America. On a city tour, explore the plazas, Baroque churches and cobbled streets of this beautiful colonial capital.