We stayed on all of the major islands in the Galapagos on a two-week visit in April 2023, plus took day trips to several more. Every island offers a truly distinct experience, especially regarding the unique wildlife that resides on each.
The hardest decision awaiting a first-time visitor is which island (or islands) to stay on and which to visit via day tours. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming.
We have created this guide to explain what you can expect on a visit to each of the Galapagos islands while providing recommendations based on our personal experience.
For the inhabited islands, we discuss the pros and cons of staying on each. For the uninhabited ones, we break down tour options and what you will likely see on a visit.
This includes information on the native wildlife, seasonality, accessibility, cost, and opportunities that each island presents.
π’ Overview: About the Galapagos Islands
β± Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are in a different time zone and are one hour behind mainland Ecuador.
π’ According to UNESCO, there are officially 127 islands, islets, and rocks within the Galapagos archipelago.
π‘ Of these, 19 are considered “large” or “major” islands that tourists can visit, but only 4 are inhabited and allow overnight stays.
π The four inhabited islands, in order of population, are Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela, and Floreana.
βοΈ Only Santa Cruz (GPS) and San Cristobal (SCY) have airports that you can fly into from the mainland.
β΄ Isabela and Floreana both have accommodation for overnight stays but can only be reached via the ferry from Santa Cruz.
List of the Best Galapagos Islands
π In alphabetical order, the 19 major Galapagos islands are:
- Baltra (aka South Seymour) Island
- Bartolome Island
- Darwin Island
- Espanola Island
- Fernandina Island
- Floreana Island
- Genovesa Island
- Isabela Island
- Marchena Island
- North Seymour Island
- Pinta Island
- Pinzon Island
- Rabida Island
- San Cristobal Island
- Santa Cruz Island
- Santa Fe Island
- Santiago Island
- South Plaza Island
- Wolf Island
*bold indicates inhabited islands
π‘ READ MORE:
WHERE TO STAY IN GALAPAGOS
πΊοΈ Map of the Galapagos Islands
The map of the Galapagos Islands above shows the archipelago in its entirety.
It has been color-coded to indicate the islands that are inhabited and can be stayed on, those accessible by day tour, and those that are accessible via cruise ship only.
In addition, ferry services and airports are indicated by the appropriate symbols.
π Our Experience Traveling the Galapagos Islands in 2023
In April 2023, we (Adam, his mother, and Sophie) took a two-week trip to the Galapagos islands with the goal of creating the most recent travel guides available.
As professional photographers and wildlife lovers, we were also very interested in seeing this amazing place for ourselves!
During our two weeks on the Galapagos archipelago, we stayed on all three major inhabited islands, including 6 nights on Santa Cruz, 5 nights on San Cristobal, and 3 nights on Isabela. We also took day trips to several of the smaller, uninhabited islands.
San Cristobal was our favorite island to stay on due to how authentically Ecuadorian it felt.
However, we recommend Santa Cruz as the better choice for most travelers, especially those who do not speak at least basic Spanish. English is not as widely spoken, and services are more limited on San Cristobal and Isabela islands than on Santa Cruz.
π Best Islands in the Galapagos to Stay On
There are four inhabited islands in the Galapagos that you can choose to stay on during your vacation. In order of population and popularity, these are:
- Santa Cruz
- San Cristobal
- Isabela
- Floreana
Santa Cruz and San Cristobal are the best islands in the Galapagos to stay on as they have airports that service mainland Ecuador and the best infrastructure to support tourism.
However, each island comes with some pros and cons that are subjective to the individual traveler. Read the descriptions on each below and decide which sounds right for you!
1. Isla Santa Cruz
| Population | ~18000 |
| Main Town | Puerto Ayora |
| Get There | Flights from mainland Ecuador, inter-island flights and ferry. |
| Best For | Best home base for Galapagos vacations. Most restaurants, tourist services, accommodations, and English speaking. |
| Highlights: | Charles Darwin Research Center, El Chato Tortoise Ranch, Highlands, Gordon Rocks, Playa Tortuga Bay, Gus Angermeyer Pier |
Santa Cruz is the best island in the Galapagos to stay on for the vast majority of vacationers. It provides the widest range of restaurants, accommodation, and tourist services, and best accommodates non-Spanish speaking visitors.
At over 18,000, Santa Cruz has more than double the population of all the other islands combined.
San Cristobal and Santa Cruz are the only two islands with airport service from mainland Ecuador, though technically the GalΓ‘pagos Ecologic Airport (GPS) that services Santa Cruz is actually located on the adjacent island of Baltra.
The highly-touristic feel and lengthy journey from the airport on Baltra to the only major town of Puerto Ayora are the main reasons why some people prefer booking their stay on San Cristobal over Santa Cruz.
Of note, there is an inter-island ferry connecting these two islands so you can easily fly into one and out from the other.
Many of the most famous sites and day tours will be found on Santa Cruz.
π’ READ MORE:
COMPLETE GUIDE TO SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
2. Isla San Cristobal
| Population | ~6000 |
| Main Town | Puerto Baquerizo Moreno |
| Get There | Flights from mainland Ecuador, inter-island flights and ferry. |
| Best For | Galapagos vacations, sea lion encounters, mix of local culture & tourism services. |
| Highlights | Kicker Rock, 360ΒΊ Tour, Playa Mann, El Junco Lagoon |
San Cristobal is the second-most popular island in the Galapagos to stay on, but is the best choice for many. Personally, it was our favorite island to stay on.
Because the San Cristobal airport (SCY) is located so close to the town center at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, it is the easiest Galapagos island to fly in and out of.
San Cristobal offers a wide range of accommodation options, ranging from backpacker budget of $15/night in “hostals” (family rooms) to 4 and 5-star hotels. There are also a variety of restaurants for all budgets and preferences, but they are far more limited than on Santa Cruz.
What makes San Cristobal truly remarkable is that the local Ecuadorian culture remains intact. In fact, English is more rarely spoken than you might imagine!
San Cristobal is also the best island to engage with sea lions, known as the “dogs of the sea”. These playful pups are absolutely everywhere and will reliably be seen darting around the waters playing their own sea lion games with the tourists.
π¦ READ MORE:
COMPLETE GUIDE TO SAN CRISTOBAL
3. Isla Isabela
| Population | ~2000 |
| Main Town | Puerto Villamil |
| Get There | Inter-island flights and ferry. |
| Best For | Accessible and expansive beach, quiet major island with sufficient tourist services. |
| Highlights | Playa Isabela, Concha de Perla, Las Tintoreras, Volcan Sierra Negra |
Isabela Island is the best island in the Galapagos for plentiful beach access. The major beach, known as Playa Isabela or Puerto Villamil Beach, extends 2.5 miles (4km).
Many hotels, bars, and resorts are located directly on the beach, with some literally built on the sand. If a beach holiday is a primary item in your Galapagos itinerary, Isabela will be your favorite.
There are some major drawbacks to choosing to stay on Isabela over Santa Cruz or San Cristobal.
For one, there is no major airport to service mainland Ecuador on Isabela, meaning you will have to fly into one of the other two aforementioned islands and take the inter-island ferry or flight to Isabela.
Beyond that, things are a bit more basic and marginally more expensive on Isabela. Those looking for something quiet and local may rejoice at this, while those who prefer comfort to adventure may struggle here.
π READ MORE:
COMPLETE GUIDE TO ISABELA ISLAND
4. Isla Floreana
| Population | ~100 |
| Main Town | Puerto Velazco Ibarra |
| Get There | Day tour from Santa Cruz or cruise only. |
| Best For | Experienced travelers escaping the modern world. |
| Highlights | Main Pier, Post Office Barrel, Playa Negra |
Though you can absolutely stay overnight on Floreana island, it is by far the worst-option for an extended stay for 99% of visitors.
There is a lot to understand if you are even considering staying overnight on Floreana and visitors must plan well in advance.
For starters, it is the only inhabited island with no cell phone coverage and WiFi is extremely limited. Cell coverage was made available, but the 100 or so residents feared it would increase the pace of life on this quiet, remote island.
There are also no bars, 2 lodges, and only four restaurants on Floreana. Reservations are required for everything.
Getting to and from Floreana for overnight stays can only be achieved by booking the day tour from Santa Cruz and arranging pick-up on a future day tour.
Warnings aside, there are plenty of compelling reasons to visit and even stay on Floreana Island. Its rich history and reclusion have preserved this special place in a way that is nearly impossible to find in the 21st century.
β΅οΈ DISCOVER MORE:
BEST GALAPAGOS DAY TOURS
β΅οΈ Best Islands in the Galapagos for Day Trips
The islands in this section are uninhabited and can therefore only be visited via day tours or as part of a Galapagos island hopping cruise.
Each island has something unique to offer, typically in the aviary and underwater wildlife, as well as a unique natural history forged by volcanoes.
If you want to do some island hopping during your visit to the Galapagos, look at the photos and list below to help decide which ones to prioritize in your personal itinerary.
5. Baltra Island
- Accessible By: Flights, ferries; home to the major Galapagos airport (GPS).
- Reason(s) to Visit: Flying in and out of Galapagos.
Previously known as South Seymour Island, Baltra is a small island north of Santa Cruz. It is home to the Seymour Airport, also known as GalΓ‘pagos Ecological Airport (GPS), which services Quito and Guayaquil on mainland Ecuador.
Baltra is not really a destination. There is not much to see there aside from a thriving population of land iguanas and a decommissioned military base.
It is very likely you will fly in and/or out of Baltra on your way to and from Santa Cruz, but there is no need to include any additional time in your Galapagos itinerary for this island.
However, keep an eye out for land iguanas on your journey to and around airport. We spotted several here!
βοΈ READ MORE:
HOW TO GET TO GALAPAGOS
6. Bartolome Island
- Accessible By: Day Tour from Santa Cruz.
- Reason(s) to Visit: Most beautiful, photogenic island in Galapagos and home to penguins.
Isla Bartolome is the most beautiful, picturesque island in the Galapagos archipelago. The main viewpoint offers a panoramic vista of two tranquil coves with golden sand and turquoise water guarded by rolling hills.
The photo opportunity from Bartolome Viewpoint is the major reason visitors take the 2.5 hour boat ride from Santa Cruz to visit.
However, a healthy Galapagos penguin colony provides another adorable reason to visit the island.
π§ READ THE COMPLETE GUIDE:
BARTOLOME ISLAND ULTIMATE GUIDE
7. Santiago Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz to Bartolome.
- Reason to Visit: Interesting volcanic formations and wildlife.
There are a number of visitor sites on Santiago Island. However, the most common to visit is Sullivan Bay which is often combined with a day tour to Bartolome Island (mentioned above).
Sullivan Bay is home to fascinating volcanic landscapes with black lava flows that contrast against white coral beaches.
For those visiting Santiago Island via cruise, it is possible to access different visitor sites such as Espumilla Beach, which is a nesting site of green sea turtles, as well as Puerto Egas, home to fur seals.
There are also a number of marine visitor sites where it is possible to spot penguins as well as sea lions, fur seals, sea turtles, rays, sharks, many fish, and some impressive underwater geologic formations.
π¦ FIND OUT MORE:
MOST ICONIC GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ANIMALS
8. EspaΓ±ola Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from San Cristobal.
- Reason to Visit: The only island to see endemic waved albatross.
EspaΓ±ola Island is the southernmost of the Galapagos islands and, at about 4 million years old, is one of the oldest as well.
From April to December, a population of around 25,000-35,000 waved albatross nest on EspaΓ±ola island. It is the only island in the Galapagos where you can see these beautiful endemic birds.
If you’re lucky, you may get to witness their interesting courtship rituals, which include stumbling, honking, and beak-fencing!
Outside of the albatross nesting season, this incredible Galapagos island is still well worth visiting. It is home to one of the best beaches in the Galapagos, the pristine white sand Gardner Bay. Here you can expect to see plenty of sea lions dotting the shoreline.
π FIND MORE INSPIRATION:
BEST GALAPAGOS BEACHES
9. Pinzon Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Reason to Visit: Incredible snorkeling spot teeming with Galapagos Sharks.
Isla Pinzon is renowned for its crystal-clear water and thriving shark population. It is one of the most popular day tours to take from Santa Cruz.
For the squeamish readers among you, understand that the sharks you will see off of Pinzon and anywhere else in the Galapagos islands are not dangerous. In fact, there are no predatory animals of any kind humans need fear within the archipelago.
It is worth noting that you will not be able to actually step foot onto the island of Pinzon. This is because the island has a tall coastline with no beaches or flat landing points for passengers to safely enter from.
In other words, visiting Pinzon Island is a great day tour for snorkeling in Galapagos, but is not otherwise recommended for sightseeing.
π¦ EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW:
PINZON ISLAND ULTIMATE GUIDE
10. North Seymour Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Reason to Visit: Great and Magnificent Frigate Birds with their bright red throat pouches.
North Seymour is the best island in the Galapagos for seeing the iconic frigate birds trying to attract a mate with their red, inflated throat pouches.
There are two species in the Galapagos, magnificent and great frigate birds, and both nest on North Seymour Island.
It is the only island where these impressive birds mate year-round, so you’re almost guaranteed to witness this remarkable courting ritual on a visit any time of year.
In addition to frigate birds, North Seymour is home to a number of other endemic birds such as blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, lava herons, short-eared owls, and more, making it a true haven for birdwatchers.
Although not endemic to the island, you may also spot land iguanas here. In the 1930s, 70 land iguanas were introduced from Baltra island. Today, it is estimated that there are over 2500 land iguanas living on North Seymour.
π
READ MORE:
7-DAY GALAPAGOS ITINERARY
11. Santa Fe Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Reason to Visit: Largest variety of endemic wildlife species of any Galapagos island & crystal clear waters.
Santa Fe is one of the closest islands to Santa Cruz, making it ideal for a day trip. While snorkeling here you can spot sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, and reef sharks, as well as a plethora of vibrant fish.
As with many Galapagos islands, the biggest draw to visit Santa Fe is its excellent snorkeling. However, what makes Santa Fe unique is its variety of endemic species.
Notably, the island is known for the Santa Fe land iguana and Santa Fe rice rat, both of which are only found here.
While you’d have to be extremely fortunate to spot one of the endemic rats, it is fairly common to see land iguanas.
π€Ώ FIND OUT MORE:
BEST SNORKELING SPOTS IN THE GALAPAGOS
12. South Plaza Island
- Accessible By: Day tour from Santa Cruz.
- Reason to Visit: Unique, colorful vegetation and a hybrid iguana population.
Similar to many of the Galapagos islands, the snorkeling at South Plaza is excellent. However, what is special about this island is its vibrant vegetation and hybrid land / marine iguana colony.
The small island’s terrain is made up of dramatic wind-swept cliffs, opuntia cacti dotting the landscapes, and vegetation that changes color depending on the season.
The Sesuvium succulents that carpet the island vary from verdant green in the rainy season to vibrant orange, red, and purple, making for a truly fascinating scene.
South Plaza Island is also the only island where land iguana and marine iguana territories overlap. This has resulted in a third, hybrid species of iguana.
πΈ DON’T MISS:
50 BEST THINGS TO DO IN GALAPAGOS
π’ Best Islands in the Galapagos for Cruises
The remaining major Galapagos islands that you can visit are only accessible as part of a cruise package that includes them on their itinerary.
These islands are all significant distances from the inhabited islands, thus the lack of day tours available. Still, some of them are fantastic and may motivate you to travel to the Galapagos via cruise in order to experience them.
13. Rabida Island
- Accessible By: Cruise only.
- Reason to Visit: Galapagos’ only red sand beach.
There are few places in the world where you can step foot onto red sand, and one of those is on Rabida Island in Galapagos.
The spectacular landscapes here make it one of the best places to photograph in the Galapagos archipelago!
While the primary draw for visiting this Galapagos island is its famed red sand beach and cliffs, it is also home to flamingos that can be spotted feeding in the lagoon adjacent to the beach.
The snorkeling here is also excellent with highlights including green sea turtles, eagle rays, sand eels, reef sharks, and occasionally Galapagos penguins.
14. Genovesa Island
- Accessible By: Cruise only.
- Reason to Visit: Excellent birdwatching.
Often referred to as “bird island”, Genovesa Island is one of the best islands in the Galapagos for birdwatching.
It is home to the world’s largest population of red-footed boobies, with a colony of over 140,000 breeding pairs. Additionally, you will find a myriad of other bird species including frigate birds, lava herons, lava gulls, swallow-tailed gulls, and short-eared owls.
Not only is the diversity of avian life here exceptional, but the sheer quantity of birds is like something from a fairy tale.
Genovesa also offers some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos at Darwin Bay. If you are lucky, you can spot hammerhead sharks here, as well as manta rays, sea lions, turtles, sharks, and schools of vibrant fish,
15. Fernandina Island
- Accessible By: Cruise only.
- Reason to Visit: Volcanic landscapes and incredible wildlife.
While the reasons to visit might sound like they could describe any of the Galapagos islands, the volcanic landscapes and wildlife are particularly special here!
Fernandina is the youngest, westernmost, and third-largest island in the Galapagos. As the youngest island, it is the most volcanically active, and evidence of its volcanic nature can be seen in its barren landscape and black lava flows everywhere you look.
When it comes to wildlife, Fernandina offers plenty. It is home to the largest and darkest-colored marine iguanas, which can be found in large numbers here. Fur seals are also a common sight on Fernandina.
Additionally, the cold waters surrounding Fernandina are the richest in the archipelago, making it one of the few places you can spot flightless cormorants and penguins.
16. Wolf Island
- Accessible By: Scuba diving liveaboard only.
- Reason to Visit: Diving with sharks and other marine life at several world-class dive sites.
Wolf Island is a small island in the far north of the archipelago. The island is only visited by divers on diving cruises known as liveaboards.
The waters around Wolf Island have some of the best dive sites in the world, particularly El Derrumbe (The Landslide) dive site.
Both Wolf Island and nearby Darwin Island are renowned for having the largest global shark biomass. This abundance of sharks is mostly comprised of scalloped hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, and blacktip reef sharks.
It is also one of the best places in the Galapagos for spotting whale sharks.
17. Darwin Island
- Accessible By: Scuba diving liveaboard only.
- Reason to Visit: Diving with sharks and other marine life at several world-class dive sites.
Darwin is the northernmost island in the Galapagos, located adjacent to aforementioned Wolf Island.
As with Wolf Island, the island is also only visited by dive boats and has no terrestrial visitor sites (in other words, no landings are permitted).
One of the main attractions of this small island was Darwin’s Arch, an impressive stone arch formation. However, the arch collapsed in May 2021 due to natural erosion, leaving two pillars in its place that continue to be home to nesting sea birds.
Darwin’s Arch remains one of the best dive sites in the area, with a huge amount of sharks, rays, and colorful reef fish.
18. Marchena Island
- Accessible By: Cruise only.
- Reason to Visit: One of the top places to swim with hammerhead sharks.
Marchena is one of the least visited Galapagos islands due to its remote northern location and having only recently been opened as a visitor site.
There are no terrestrial visitor sites, but the coastal waters surrounding Marchena Island are home to some of the best snorkeling and diving spots in the Galapagos.
In particular, it is an excellent place for spotting sharks, with hammerhead and Galapagos sharks both abundant here. Galapagos dolphins are also common, as well as sea lions and fur seals.
19. Pinta Island
- Accessible By: Cruise only.
- Reason to Visit: Abundance of fish at Punta Neros marine site.
Pinta Island is most known as being the original home of Lonesome George, the last of the Pinta tortoises and the most famous non-fictional tortoise in the world.
However, the island is included on very few cruise itineraries as it has no on-land visitor sites and only one marine visitor site.
Those that do manage to get to visit this remote island may be fortunate enough to spot red-lipped batfish, as well as sea lions, sea turtles, and moray eels.
π Best Minor Islands in the Galapagos to Visit
These final rocks and “minor islands” are also popular day trip destinations, typically for snorkeling, with some of the best marine wildlife viewing you will find on this planet.
Consider a visit to these special locations as well.
Kicker Rock
Kicker Rock is one of the Galapagos’ best diving sites. It is the best site that can be accessed via day trip for swimming with Galapagos hammerhead sharks.
Snorkeling is also fantastic here with a high likelihood of swimming with the hammerheads as well as turtles, sea lions, and tropical fish.
Gordon Rocks
Located northeast of Santa Cruz, Gordon Rocks is one of the best dive sites in Galapagos that you can reach by day trip.
Here you can get the chance to dive with schools of hammerhead sharks, black and white tip reef sharks, green sea turtles, barracuda, spotted eagle rays, mobula rays, and more.
Isla Lobos
While sea lions can be seen on pretty much every Galapagos island, you will find these playful creatures in large numbers enjoying the pure white sand beaches of Isla Lobos.
Lobos Island is one of the most popular day trips available from San Cristobal for snorkeling.
πββοΈ FAQs About the Best Islands in the Galapagos
Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the best islands in the Galapagos. Simply click the drop down arrows to reveal answers!
Which island is the best to visit in Galapagos?
Santa Cruz and San Cristobal are the best islands to stay on in Galapagos, but Kicker Rock, Bartolome, Isabela, and North Seymour are all incredible islands to visit as well.
Which Galapagos island has the best beaches?
Isabella island has the best beach of the major Galapagos islands. Playa Isabela spans 2.5 miles (4 km) of walkable coastline with restaurants and hotels lining the shores.
How many days is enough to see all of the Galapagos islands?
As there are over 100 minor islands and 19 major islands in the Galapagos archipelago, it is nearly impossible for tourists to see them all. However, 7-10 days is sufficient for seeing the three main islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabela.
Which islands in the Galapagos are best for wildlife?
San Cristobal is the best island for vacationers who want to engage with wildlife right off the beach, but each island in the Galapagos has something unique to offer in the way of wildlife.
Which islands in the Galapagos can you not visit?
You can legally travel to any island in the Galapagos, but the only ones you can stay on and visit without an official park guide are Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela, and Floreana.
The islands of Rabida, Santiago, Fernandina, Marchena, Pinta, Wolf, and Genovesa can only be visiting by sailing or with a Galapagos Cruise. No day tours are available to these islands.
Which island in the Galapagos is best for snorkeling?
San Cristobal is the best Galapagos island for beach snorkeling, and is also home to the best off-shore snorkeling destination in Kicker Rock.
π More Galapagos Islands Travel Guides
The two of us work very hard to create these free travel guides to help you plan your dream vacation. If you think we’ve done a good job and would like to say thanks, please consider clicking the donate button below π
Hopefully, this guide has answered all of your questions, now it’s time for the rest of your planning!
These guides will help you through the process step-by-step, providing insight on everything from finding flights to top activities and so much more.
Planning Guides
- Where to Stay in Galapagos
- How to Travel to Galapagos in 10 Easy Steps
- Galapagos 5-Day Itinerary
- Galapagos 7-Day Itinerary
- Galapagos 10-Day Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit the Galapagos Islands
- How to Island Hop the Galapagos
- Galapagos Packing List
- Galapagos Trip Cost & How to Budget
- How to Visit the Galapagos on a Budget
Local Guides
- Santa Cruz Island Ultimate Guide
- San Cristobal Ultimate Guide
- Isabela Island Ultimate Guide
- Bartolome Island Ultimate Guide
- Pinzon Island Ultimate Guide
Things to Do Guides
- Top 50 Things to Do in Galapagos
- Best Islands to Visit in the Galapagos
- Best Galapagos Day Tours
- Galapagos Photography Guide
- Best Beaches in the Galapagos Islands
- Why You NEED to Visit the Galapagos Islands
- Best Galapagos Snorkeling Spots
- Iconic Galapagos Animals & Where to See Them
π¬ Final Thoughts on the Best Galapagos Islands
The two of us work very hard to create these free travel guides to help you plan your dream vacation. If you think we’ve done a good job and would like to say thanks, please consider clicking the donate button below π
We truly hope you have found this Galapagos travel guide useful and have learned answers to any questions you had.
Now we’d like to hear from YOU!
Was there anything missing, incomplete, inaccurate, or confusing? Was it everything you hoped for and more?!
Help us to help future readers by sharing your thoughts in the comments section below!
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