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50 Galapagos Islands Pictures to Entice Your Inner Explorer

December 18, 2023 by Rachel

Scrolling through these Galapagos Islands pictures, it’s easy to see how the archipelago so greatly inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. The Galapagos Islands are world-renowned for their biodiversity and unique endemic species. Set against the striking backdrop of the volcanic islands, you’ll be rushing to get there and see them for yourself.

*Cover photo by Edu_Ruiz on Pixabay.

Table of Contents

The Islands

The Galapagos archipelago consists of 18 main islands, 3 small islands, and 107 islets. Having evolved over 20 million years, the Galapagos Islands have a great diversity not only of native animals but also of landscapes. There is something remarkable and captivating about each island.

Galapagos Tours:

Santa Cruz Island

1. Tortuga Bay
A blue-footed booby preens its feathers in front of one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos, Tortuga Bay. Image: By David Ceballos. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
2. Dragon Hill
Dragon Hill, or Cerro Dragón, stands on the northwestern coast of Santa Cruz. It is home to a large colony of Galapagos land iguanas. Image: By Mikko Koponen. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
3. Puerto Ayora
Hotels stand right up against the water in Puerto Ayora. Image: By Pete. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped and compressed from original.
4. Galapagos souvenir shop
Pick up a hammock or blue-footed booby wall hanging at a souvenir shop in Puerto Ayora. Image: by Paul Krawczuk. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
5. Bachas Beach
Jet black lava rocks divide a section of Bachas Beach. Photo by Melissa Dreffs of Inca Expert Travel.
6. Fish market
A Galapagos sea lion begs for fish at a local market. Image: By John Crane. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
Isabela Island

7. Los Túneles
Los Túneles, made up of lava rock tunnels and natural bridges, is a perfect snorkeling spot on Isabela. Image: By David Ceballos. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
8. Lava rock coast
A flock of blue-footed boobies gathers on the rocky shores of Isabela. Image: By Anne and David. Used under Public Domain Mark 1.0 / Compressed from original.
9. Sierra Negra Volcano
Travelers hike up to the top of the Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island. Image: By Michael R Perry. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
10. Wolf Volcano
At 5,600 ft (1,707 m), Wolf Volcano is the highest point in the Galapagos. Image: By ilf_. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
Fernandina Island

11. Lava rocks and cacti
It may seem improbable, but these cacti are able to grow on top of Fernandina’s expanses of lava rock. Image: By Dan. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
12. Sunbathing iguanas
Marine iguanas sunbathe on Punta Espinosa. Image: By David Stanley. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
Santiago Island

13. Sullivan Bay
Travelers explore the undulating lava rock of Sullivan Bay. Image: By Boberger. Used under CC BY-SA 3.0 / Compressed from original.
14. Marine iguanas
A pair of marine iguanas pose for a photo as they enjoy the warmth emanating from the lava rock. Image: By Jeremy T. Hetzel. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
Rábida Island

15. Red Beach
Iron in the sand turns this beach on Rábida Island a beautiful shade of red. The perfect backdrop for some elegant Galapagos sea lions!
Bartolomé Island

16. Pinnacle Rock
The most photographed landscape in the Galapagos archipelago is that surrounding Bartolomé’s Pinnacle Rock. Image: By Natalie Marquis on Unsplash.
South Plaza Island

17. Sesuvium and cacti
During the dry season from June to December the Sesuvium, or sea purslanes, of South Plaza turn vivid hues of red, orange, and violet. Image: By Vince Smith. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Adjusted brightness and compressed from original.
Floreana Island

18. Post Office Bay
Sailors created this makeshift post office in the 18th century and it is still used today! Leave a letter in the barrel for another traveler to pick up and bring to its final destination. Image: By claumoho. Used under CC BY 2.0 / compressed from original.
19. Devil’s Crown
Devil’s Crown is the remains of a volcanic crater and is a great snorkeling spot. Image: By David Brossard. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Adjusted brightness and compressed from original.
20. Cormorant Point
Cormorant Point hosts a large population of pink flamingos, as well as many other bird species. Image: By Dan. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
Española Island

21. Suarez Point
Suarez Point has an unforgettable landscape. Here you’ll also have the chance to see the rare waved albatross. Image: By Jeremy T.Hetzel. Used under CC BY-2.0 / Compressed from original.
22. Gardner Bay
These sea lions have the right idea! Lounge in the soft white sand of Gardner Bay. Image: By Dan: Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
San Cristobal Island

23. Kicker Rock
Kicker Rock is one of the most majestic sites in the Galapagos. You can spot sharks and sea lions in the waters surrounding this towering rock formation. Image: By Marc Dove. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
Genovesa Island

24. El Barranco
On the western point of Darwin Bay is El Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps. Hiking up to the cliffside, you’ll likely spot red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and frigatebirds. Photo by Melissa Dreffs of Inca Expert Travel.
25. Galapagos sunset
While cruising through the Galapagos, you’ll undoubtedly catch breathtaking sunsets each night of your trip! Image: By Murray Foubister. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped and compressed from original.

Galapagos Animals

Galapagos Animals

The Galapagos Islands are famous for its endemic wildlife that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. Having been virtually untouched by mankind, the animals of the Galapagos evolved without any fear of humans. Wildlife photographers are thus able to get up close to these intriguing creatures.

Birds

26. Blue-footed booby
A blue-footed booby nonchalantly preens its feathers with the immense Kicker Rock as a backdrop. Image: By VanZonneveld on Pixabay.
27. Blue-foot booby
Male blue-footed boobies perform mating dances that purposefully show off their enticing blue feet! Image: By Pedro Szekely. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
28. Waved albatross
The waved albatross, also known as the Galapagos albatross, is the only one of its genus to live in the tropics. When it forages, it flies straight for a specific spot on the coast of Peru over 600 miles (1,000 km) away. Image: By Mac Gaither on Unsplash.
29. Flightless cormorant
This silly looking bird has evolved in a way that has left it flightless. However, this cormorant is a most impressive swimmer! Image: By Dan. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
30. Darwin’s finches
The Galapagos Islands are home to many different species of finches. In fact, each island’s unique geography has greatly influenced all these species’ physical evolution. Image: By kuhnmi. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
31. Flamingo
The flamingo’s beak is specially shaped to filter out mud and silt from the bottom of lagoons, leaving only the tasty brine shrimp. These shrimp, of course, give the birds their pink coloration. Image: By Pedro Szekely. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
32. Frigatebird
Male frigatebirds inflate their red gular pouches to attract females during the mating season. Image: By Image-NatioN on Pixabay.
33. Galapagos penguin
Galapagos penguins are the only penguin species found north of the equator—although just barely! Image: By Pedro Szekely. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
34. Red-footed booby
Red-footed boobies are found throughout the earth’s tropics. Although they always have red feet, their bodies come in various colors. In the Galapagos there are white-bodied and brown-bodied red-footed boobies. Image: By Florent Figon. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
Reptiles

35. Land iguana on. South Plaza Island
Land iguanas come in various colors throughout the islands, including earthy browns and bright yellows. There are even pink land iguanas living on Isabela’s Wolf Volcano! Image: By Oliver Dodd. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
36. Marine iguana
Marine iguanas, endemic to the Galapagos Islands, are the only lizards capable of foraging in the sea. Image: By Roi Dimor on Unsplash.
37. Green sea turtle
You can spot sea turtles in the warm, shallow water around the islands. Image: By Paul Krawczuk. Used under CC BY 2.0.
38. Galapagos giant tortoise
Perhaps the most famous creature from the Galapagos, the Galapagos giant tortoise! These tortoises can weigh over 900 lbs (400 kg)! Image: By Alexas_Fotos on Pixabay.
Crustaceans

39. Sally lightfoot crabs
Thanks to their fine pointed legs, the sally lightfoot crab has an incredible grip of the Galapagos’ lava rocks allowing them to stay put when waves crash over them. Image: By Amy Perez on Unsplash.
40. A sally lightfoot crab stand-off
Baby sally lightfoot crabs are almost black in color, helping them to camouflage against the lava rock environment. Adults, on the other hand, have incredibly vibrant colors! Image: By Rod Long on Unsplash.
Sharks

41. Galapagos shark
The Galapagos reef shark can be found in abundance in clear reef environments. They can grow to be 10 ft (3 m) long! Image: By Lucy Rickards. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
42. Whitetip reef shark
Whitetip reef sharks are relatively small at about 5 ft (1.5 m). They are often found napping in caves during the day. Image: By Lucy Rickards. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
43. Hammerhead shark
Hammerhead sharks are one of the few types of sharks known to swim in schools. A popular diving spot for hammerhead sharks is around the northern Darwin and Wolf Islands. Image: By Lucy Rickards. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.
44. Whale shark
They may be monstrous in size—on average 26 to 30 ft (8 to 9 m) in length—but whale sharks pose no threat to humans. They like to meander through tropical waters feeding on plankton and small fish. Image: By Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash.
Sea lions

45. A most distinguished sea lion
Galapagos sea lions are often spotted sunbathing on shores throughout the islands. Image: By fredfowler on Pixabay.
46. Lounging sea lions
Sea lions make themselves at home anywhere on the Galapagos and take advantage of the humans’ lounge chairs. Image: By Natalie Marquis on Unsplash.
47. Beach bum sea lion
Sea lions are incredibly playful creatures, often seen swimming around in the surf. After a good play, they also like to take a good nap! Image: By Amy Perez on Unsplash.
48. Sleepy sea lion pup
It’s very tiring being this cute! A sea lion pup takes advantage of the heated black lava rocks for naptime. Image: By Pedro Szekely. Used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original.
49. Sea lion and his blue-footed booby friend
On top of external ear flaps, another physiological difference between sea lions and seals is that sea lions can use their back flippers to help them walk. This makes them more agile on land. Image: By peterstuartmill on Pixabay.
50. Sea lion mama with her pup
Breeding season for Galapagos sea lions is from May to January with pups born a year later. However, because of the extensive care needed, you can see dependent (and adorable) pups all year round. Image: By Michael R Perry. Used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original.

These are just a handful of beautiful photographs that have been taken on the archipelago. However, to truly appreciate the Galapagos’ unique charm you need to see and experience the islands for yourself. This way you can collect your own beautiful Galapagos Islands pictures.

Contact our travel experts to help you plan the perfect Galapagos vacation!

About the author
Rachel

Family trips abroad gave Rachel an insatiable taste for foreign languages and cultures.


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