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Wildlife watching in the Galapagos

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Stroll with sea birds and snorkel with penguins, sea lions and marine iguanas on guided expeditions in the pristine natural wonderland of the Galápagos.

Imagine a natural sanctuary where giant tortoises plod beside marine iguanas, while penguins and sea lions dart through an ocean brimming with tropical marine life... Welcome to the Galápagos Islands, where wildlife enjoys a fearless existence free from predators and unthreatened by man.

No matter which islands you visit, you'll see wildlife in huge numbers and from very close range – these exotic creatures are completely unfazed by your presence. You can walk among languid colonies of iguanas and sea birds, snorkel with playful sea lions and watch blue-footed boobies perform their delightful mating dance right before your eyes. Between June and October there’s even a chance of sighting humpback whales breaching beside your boat.

Each island is surprisingly different to the next, both geographically and ecologically, and we can help you choose an itinerary that visits particular habitats if you are keen to see a specific species. However the truth is that there isn't a corner of the archipelago that won't enchant wildlife lovers, and the simple privilege of sharing this unique environment with the creatures who call it home is enough to make any visit a richly rewarding experience.

Galapagos Islands
Isabela (Albemarle)

Holidays Wildlife watching in the Galapagos

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Sea lions on a sandy beach in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

Signature Galapagos

7 days from £4,550pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Bartolome Island in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

Signature Galapagos: Island hopping

10 days from £7,900pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Sea lion sunbathing on rocks in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands / Peru

Value Galapagos and Peru

13 days from £5,000pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Snow covered peak of Cotopaxi volcano in the Galapagos

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

Walking in Ecuador and Galapagos

12 days from £5,600pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Quasar Grace boat heading towards rocky islands

Private Journeys

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

Luxury Galapagos Islands cruise

10 days from £11,100pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

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