As news of the notable diversity of animals in the Galapagos Islands. continues to spread, the Ecuadorian archipelago has become one of the most popular ecotourism spots in the world.
In recent years, the area has attracted more than 150,000 annual visitors on average, most of them concentrated on the islands of San Cristobal and Santa Cruz.
As a means to limit the negative impacts of mass tourism, the Galapagos National Park Authority established new rules in 2011.
These regulations changed the frequencies of cruise ship routes to the Galapagos, incentivizing tour operators to visit some of the area’s lesser-known islands.
Having taken Galapagos cruises before and after the changes were implemented, I personally believe they were ultimately for the better.
Not only for the ecosystems and local residents, but also for travelers. It meant smaller crowds, better interactions with animals, and opportunities to visit off-the-beaten-path attractions that land travelers never get to see.
Here’s a look at seven unique experiences on a single small ship. Galapagos Islands Cruises can offer…
READ MORE: 30 incredible animals of the Galapagos Islands
1. Dive off the coast of Wolf Island
Due to its unique and extraordinarily diverse variety of marine life, the Galapagos Islands are one of the most popular diving destinations in the world. But some of its most impressive dive sites are also among the most remote.
Take Shark Point, off the coast of Wolf Island, for example. It is located about 100 miles northwest of Isabela. It has no permanent population and the Galapagos National Park authority does not allow boats to disembark there.
In short, a Galapagos cruise or liveaboard dive boat is the only way to visit the Galapagos.
The diving there is world famous. Divers are mainly attracted to the huge whale sharks that inhabit the area. But you can also find a large number of marine animals such as dolphins, Galapagos sharks and hammerhead sharks.
Just keep in mind that due to strong currents and limited visibility, this dive site is recommended for experienced divers only.
READ MORE: 21 fascinating facts about the Galapagos Islands
2. Get a panoramic view of Genovesa Island
The Galapagos Islands are a world-renowned place. paradise for bird loversbecause it has around 56 native species (45 of which are endemic) and 29 migratory species.
But Genovesa, nicknamed “Bird Island,” stands out for providing the opportunity to see many of them within a very short walking distance.
The island spans five square miles and includes a great hiking trail at Prince Philip’s Steps. But the most intense thing for us happened right near the horseshoe-shaped beach. We didn’t walk more than a few hundred meters in total, but the diversity of birds we saw along the way was absolutely mind-blowing.
In the span of a few hours we saw Darwin’s finches, a Galapagos hawk, Galapagos mockingbirds, magnificent frigatebirds, Nazca and red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, storm petrels and more.
There were hatchlings and juveniles nesting alongside the trail, not to mention the ubiquitous Galapagos sea lions. As a wildlife photographer, it was one of the best days of my life!
READ MORE: Galapagos birds: 25 species you can see on a Galapagos cruise
3. Mail a postcard to Post Card Bay on Floreana Island
Floreana is a fascinating island. In the 1920s, Ecuador encouraged settlers to establish property in the Galapagos by offering them free plots of land, hunting and fishing rights, and no taxes for the first 10 years.
Some Europeans responded to the call to start anew in paradise, including numerous German expatriates seeking to escape the dramatic political and economic instability of their homeland.
Floreana became the site of the famous “Galapagos Affair“The murder mystery. But its human presence dates back to the whaling era of the 19th century, when sailors installed a barrel in what became known as Post Office Bay.
Homesick whalers (who often spent years at sea) left letters home there. Other passing sailors delivered the letters to their ports of call.
The tradition continues today: thousands of Galapagos travelers visit Post Office Bay each year and leave postcards for friends and family. Other visitors will deliver them to the intended recipient, sometimes by hand!
READ MORE: Darwin’s paradise: animals, ecotourism and adventure in the Galapagos Islands
4. Marvel at the marine iguanas on Fernandina Island
This endemic species can be found practically everywhere in the Galapagos.
But they seem to really love congregating on the islands’ lava-covered shores, where they can quickly absorb the sun’s heat to warm their bodies after swimming.
In terms of numbers, the best place to see marine iguanas is Fernandina Island, where you will find hundreds of them gathered en masse. Up close they look a bit like miniature Godzillas, hissing and sneezing to expel excess salt from their nasal glands.
Their flattened tails, shortened snouts, and pointed dorsal fins make them a marvel to behold in the water.
It’s strange to dive and see a 3-foot-long lizard feeding on algae 25 feet below you and then moving its prehistoric-looking body to swim to the surface for air. They’re a weird mix of creepy, cute, and cool!
READ MORE: 7 important life lessons I learned in the Galapagos Islands
5. See the unique wildlife around Wolf Volcano
Like the Hawaiian Islands, the volcanic Galapagos archipelago is believed to have been created by a mantle plume.
Located at the northern tip of Isabela Island, Wolf Volcano is the highest peak in the area (5,600 feet) and erupted in 2015 after 33 years of dormancy.
Named after the 19th century German geologist Thomas Wolf, the most interesting thing about the volcano is the fact that the wildlife surrounding it is incredibly unique. Not only that of other islands in the archipelago, but that of the neighboring volcanoes of Isabela Island!
It has its own subspecies of Galapagos tortoise, which has a saddle-shaped shell. It has other subspecies of turtles that were abandoned there over the years, including some with similar DNA to the last one. George the Lonely‘s. Scientists are trying to use that DNA to recover the extinct Pinta Island turtle.
It is also home to the rare pink land iguana, a new species discovered there in 2009.
READ MORE: Interview with the executive of the Charles Darwin Foundation. Director Swen Lorenz
6. Swim with Galapagos penguins on Isabela Island
Located directly across from Fernandina on Isabela Island, Tagus Cove is another Galapagos attraction with historical ties to sailors. This natural harbor was used by whalers and pirates centuries ago, and many of them carved or painted the names of their ships on the surrounding rocks.
But today Tagus Cove is best known as one of the best places in the Galapagos for snorkeling, especially if you want to see the rare Galapagos penguin.
Swimming with Galapagos penguins is not easy: most of the time you will see them gliding through the water like turbopropelled rockets, racing to run over their favorite prey, such as krill, small crustaceans and fish.
But if you’re lucky and keep a respectful distance, you might find a penguin curious enough to swim around you for a closer look. We spent almost 25 minutes swimming with a couple during our Galapagos cruise, and it remains one of the greatest wildlife encounters of my life!
READ MORE: Secrets to swimming with Galapagos penguins
7. Visit the Sea Lion Colony on Española Island
Visiting Gardner Bay on Espanola Island remains one of my favorite experiences on Galapagos Island.
The setting couldn’t be more picturesque, with beautiful white sand, bright blue waters, and impressive rock formations just offshore.
But the main attraction here is the huge colony of Galapagos sea lions, which typically range from dozens to over a hundred animals.
You will see baby sea lions feeding happily; teenagers frolicking in the waves; mothers taking care of their babies; and huge males that fight for territory and breeding rights.
It’s an amazing place to take a selfie, snorkel, or just sit and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever been lucky enough to see. –Bret Love; all photos of Bret Love and Mary Gabbett unless otherwise noted
