{"id":77,"date":"2018-10-25T14:33:24","date_gmt":"2018-10-25T14:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuadorhop\/?page_id=77"},"modified":"2025-09-30T19:53:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:53:16","slug":"galapagos-islands","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/","title":{"rendered":"Galapagos Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-galapagos.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"galapagos","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Galapagos Islands: 2025 Updated Guide - Ecuador Hop","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"The Galapagos Islands are a must-see on any trip to Ecuador. Read our 2025 guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting these amazing islands.","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-77","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"imagen_protocolo":"","title_banner_protocolo":"","text_protocolo":"","link_btn_protocolo":"","title":"GAL\u00c1PAGOS
GUIDE 2025","bgr_internal_pages":78,"text_info_title":"GAL\u00c1PAGOS INFORMATION","text_info":"Below we have compiled a 2024 up-to-date guide to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biologically diverse places on earth. This archipelago of islands is located about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. It is perhaps most famous for being the place where Charles Darwin first formulated his revolutionary theory of evolution. A visit to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands is a real once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the highlights of any visit to South America. Learn about how to visit the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands below.","content_bus_to_quito":"
\"\"<\/div>\r\n
\r\n

BUSES TO QUITO<\/p>\r\n

If you are looking for information on the best buses to take in Ecuador, visit our passes<\/a> page.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>","title_menu":"NAVIGATION MENU","title_navigation_menu":"GETTING TO THE GAL\u00c1PAGOS ISLANDS","img_navigation_menu":"","content_navigation_menu":"The only way to get to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands is by flying from mainland Ecuador. There are multiple daily flights to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands leaving from the cities of Quito and Guayaquil and usually run around $400-500 for round-trip tickets. Flights arrive at airports located on Isla Baltra or Isla San Crist\u00f3bal and are operated by three airlines: TAME, Avianca and LAN.","title_navigation_menu_1":"THE ISLANDS","img_navigation_menu_1":"","info_content_row_1":[{"name_city":"Santa Cruz","text_city":"This is the main island of the Gal\u00e1pagos Archipelago and the place where the largest population of locals can be found. Santa Cruz is where you\u2019ll find the best restaurants, shopping and other modern amenities as well as some great beaches and snorkeling spots."},{"name_city":"San Cristobal","text_city":"Puerto Baquerizo, the largest town on the island of San Cristobal, is the capital of the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands and therefore home to the majority of the government buildings as well as a university. Outside of the city, there are many opportunities for spotting wildlife such as flamingos and sea lions along the coast."},{"name_city":"Isabela","text_city":"Though Isabela is the largest of the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands by area, it\u2019s not quite as developed as some of the other islands, with much of its infrastructure still being developed. This island has a number of gorgeous beaches and is well-known for its excellent snorkeling options."},{"name_city":"Daphne","text_city":"This volcanic island lies just north of Santa Cruz and is easily accessible from there. The island itself requires special permission to enter and is mainly used for scientific research, however a trip around its perimeter to birdwatch or snorkel in the waters is a popular tour for visitors."},{"name_city":"Pinz\u00f3n Island","text_city":"Like Daphne Island, tourists are not permitted to step foot on Pinz\u00f3n Island but boat tours of the area are common. The waters surrounding the island offer some of the best snorkeling in the Gal\u00e1pagos, with opportunities to observe sea turtles, sharks and even manta rays."},{"name_city":"Santiago","text_city":"Another uninhabited island, Santiago is known for its beautiful geological formations and picturesque beaches. There are many opportunities here for observing wildlife, with sea turtle and flamingo nesting sites located on the island as well as excellent snorkeling in the surrounding waters."},{"name_city":"Floreana","text_city":"The small island of Floreana has an interesting and infamous history. It was settled by a group of eccentric German immigrants who considered it an earthly paradise until a number of mysterious disappearances shocked their small community. These events inspired a critically-acclaimed documentary called The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden. Floreana is also famous for its \u201cpost office,\u201d a barrel located in the island\u2019s main port where passing travelers take postcards to hand-deliver if they will be close to the address--a quirky tradition which survives to this day."},{"name_city":"Bartolome","text_city":"The small island of Bartolome is home to one of the most distinctive sites of the archipelago: Pinnacle Rock, where you can snorkel with penguins, sea lions and a variety of colorful fish. This is considered one of the must-see attractions of the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands."},{"name_city":"Genovesa","text_city":"Genovesa Island is one of the best places for birdwatching in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands. Here you\u2019ll be able to spot dozens of different types of birds including some rare or endangered varieties, if you\u2019re lucky. The area around Genovesa is also excellent for snorkeling, with numerous shark species residing in the waters."},{"name_city":"Fernandina","text_city":"The island of Fernandina is most well-known for its large population of land iguanas, one of the Gal\u00e1pagos\u2019 most famous animals. Make a stop here to observe them and to enjoy some time on the island\u2019s many beautiful and scenic beaches."},{"name_city":"Espa\u00f1ola","text_city":"This is one of the most remote islands in the chain and offers some of the best snorkeling, with a chance to see large schools of fish and even the occasional shark. On land, you\u2019ll be able to spot a number of interesting bird species who have colonies on the island."}],"title_navigation_menu_2":"CHOOSING A GAL\u00c1PAGOS TOUR","img_navigation_menu_2":"","info_content_row_2":null,"content_extra":"To learn more about tour operators in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, visit the tour comparison website Find Local Trips.<\/span>","title_navigation_menu_3":"DID YOU KNOW?","img_navigation_menu_3":"","content_list_3":"

  • The Gal\u00e1pagos Archipelago is made up of 18 main islands along with countless islets and large rocks scattered around the area.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • The islands were formed by volcanic activity within the earth\u2019s crust, deep underneath the ocean.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • Due to their extreme isolation, the majority of the animal species in the Gal\u00e1pagos cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • The Gal\u00e1pagos Islands famously inspired Charles Darwin\u2019s theory of evolution.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • The islands were named for their most famous occupants, the Gal\u00e1pagos tortoises--not the other way around!<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • Gal\u00e1pagos tortoises have a lifespan of over 100 years, making them one of the longest-living creatures on the planet.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • Several different groups have called the islands home over the course of their history, including a period where they served as a refuge to English pirates.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • More than 150,000 people visit the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands every year.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
  • The sinking of a ship by a sperm whale in the Gal\u00e1pagos was the inspiration for Herman Melville\u2019s famous novel Moby Dick.<\/span><\/li>","title_navigation_menu_4":"PACKING FOR THE GAL\u00c1PAGOS ISLANDS","content_completo_4":"

    WHAT TO BRING TO THE GAL\u00c1PAGOS ISLANDS<\/h3>\r\n

    The following is a list of essential items to bring to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands:<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • A variety of long sleeve and short sleeve shirts.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • High quality hiking boots.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Light fleece or sweatshirt.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Poncho or rain jacket if you\u2019re visiting during rainy season.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Sandals.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Swimsuit for snorkeling.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Sun protection such as sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.<\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • Small backpack or day pack. <\/span><\/li>\r\n
    • A good camera to capture all the beautiful natural scenery and wildlife!<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n

      WHAT NOT TO BRING TO THE GAL\u00c1PAGOS ISLANDS<\/h3>\r\n

      The introduction of any nonnative plant species poses a grave threat to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands and preventing it is considered a top priority of local authorities. This means that it is strictly prohibited to bring any outside fruit or vegetables with you to the islands. You should also take care to wash your shoes, clothes or camping equipment if there is a possibility that anything might contain organic matter such as spores<\/p>","title_navigation_menu_5":"GAL\u00c1PAGOS SAFETY TIPS","content_completo_5":"Since residency on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands is heavily restricted, it is a very safe place to visit and even petty theft is quite rare. With that said, it\u2019s still always best to keep your belongings locked up just to be safe. While outside, make sure to protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Be careful around any wildlife that you encounter, and make sure to follow all standard safety advice when snorkeling or scuba diving.","title_navigation_menu_6":"GAL\u00c1PAGOS ANIMALS & WILDLIFE","content_completo_6":"

      While this incredibly biodiverse archipelago has far too many species to list here, there are a number of especially unique or interesting species that visitors can be on the lookout for. Seeing these special animals is a highlight of any trip to the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n

      • Gal\u00e1pagos Tortoises <\/span>- These giant reptiles are so abundant in the Gal\u00e1pagos Archipelago that they gave the islands their name (Gal\u00e1pagos means tortoise in Spanish).<\/p><\/li>\r\n

      • Gal\u00e1pagos Penguins <\/span>- This rarest of all penguin species is common throughout the Gal\u00e1pagos, especially around the islands of Fernandina and Isabela at the western end of the archipelago.<\/p><\/li>\r\n

      • Sea Lion <\/span>- The Gal\u00e1pagos Sea Lion is a special species which exclusively breeds in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands and can often be seen lounging on beaches or swimming near the shore.<\/p><\/li>\r\n

      • Marine Iguana <\/span>- These massive lizards, which can reach weights of up to 12 kilograms, are found nowhere else on Earth and have no natural predators on the islands (invasive species introduced by humans are their greatest threat).<\/p><\/li>\r\n

      • Sally Lightfoot Crab <\/span>- The origin of this crustacean\u2019s name is obscure--some believe they were named for a popular Caribbean dancing star--but their quick speed and jumping ability certainly earns them the \u201clightfoot\u201d moniker.<\/p><\/li>\r\n

      • Blue-footed Boobies <\/span>- One of the most distinctive birds of the islands, blue-footed boobies can be seen rearing their young on beaches throughout the Gal\u00e1pagos.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","extra_bottom":"The above are just a small sampling of the many amazing creatures that can be seen on the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands!","ads_city":"","":"","title_protocolo":""},"yoast_head":"\nGalapagos Islands: 2025 Updated Guide - Ecuador Hop<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Galapagos Islands are a must-see on any trip to Ecuador. Read our 2025 guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting these amazing islands.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Galapagos Islands: 2025 Updated Guide - Ecuador Hop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Galapagos Islands are a must-see on any trip to Ecuador. Read our 2025 guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting these amazing islands.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ecuador Hop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EcuadorHop\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-30T14:53:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/galapagos-islands\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/galapagos-islands\\\/\",\"name\":\"Galapagos Islands: 2025 Updated Guide - Ecuador Hop\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-10-25T14:33:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-30T14:53:16+00:00\",\"description\":\"The Galapagos Islands are a must-see on any trip to Ecuador. Read our 2025 guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting these amazing islands.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/galapagos-islands\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/galapagos-islands\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/galapagos-islands\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Galapagos Islands\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/\",\"name\":\"Ecuador Hop\",\"description\":\"Don't be a typical tourist... Discover the REAL Ecuador!\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Ecuador Hop\",\"alternateName\":\"EH\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/eh-favi.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/5\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/eh-favi.png\",\"width\":1020,\"height\":1020,\"caption\":\"Ecuador Hop\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bushop.com\\\/ecuador\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/EcuadorHop\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/ecuadorhop\\\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Galapagos Islands: 2025 Updated Guide - Ecuador Hop","description":"The Galapagos Islands are a must-see on any trip to Ecuador. Read our 2025 guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting these amazing islands.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Galapagos Islands: 2025 Updated Guide - Ecuador Hop","og_description":"The Galapagos Islands are a must-see on any trip to Ecuador. Read our 2025 guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting these amazing islands.","og_url":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/","og_site_name":"Ecuador Hop","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EcuadorHop\/","article_modified_time":"2025-09-30T14:53:16+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/","url":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/","name":"Galapagos Islands: 2025 Updated Guide - Ecuador Hop","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/#website"},"datePublished":"2018-10-25T14:33:24+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-30T14:53:16+00:00","description":"The Galapagos Islands are a must-see on any trip to Ecuador. Read our 2025 guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting these amazing islands.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/galapagos-islands\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Galapagos Islands"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/#website","url":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/","name":"Ecuador Hop","description":"Don't be a typical tourist... Discover the REAL Ecuador!","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/#organization","name":"Ecuador Hop","alternateName":"EH","url":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/eh-favi.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/eh-favi.png","width":1020,"height":1020,"caption":"Ecuador Hop"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EcuadorHop\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ecuadorhop\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/77","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/77\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29194,"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/77\/revisions\/29194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bushop.com\/ecuador\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}