Whale and Dolphin Watching in the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands are home to over 24 different species of dolphins and whales. Some of these species are year-round residents while others pass through during their migrations. The best time and place to see them is between June and October, and the best location is in the channel between the islands of Isabela and Fernandina. Whale and dolphin watching in the Galapagos are one of the most incredible and unforgettable experiences of life.

How Whale and Dolphin Watching Works

Whale and dolphin watching can be done by land on occasion, but it is typically done by boat. This can be on your cruise, or you can take a separate charter boat specifically to see whales. Whale and dolphin watching will often include the guidance of a naturalist who can teach you about the species you are seeing. Proper whale watching techniques require that you keep a safe distance from whales while underway. However, captains may turn off the boat and allow curious whales to approach you for a closer look. All vessels operating in Galapagos have clear guidelines for “whale and dolphin watching vessel etiquette”.

Get a close look at whales and dolphins in the Galapagos Islands! Experience this unbelievable moment aboard Santa Cruz II Cruise!

Types of Whales

Galapagos Whales: Orcas
Killer Whales Or Orcas Are Often Seen In Panga Rides In The Galapagos Islands

Whales and dolphins come in two distinct types: the toothed whales and the baleen whales. Dolphins, porpoises, and orcas are all a part of the toothed whale family, as are sperm whales. They are typically, but not always, fish eaters. Blue, humpback, and other baleen whales comprise the second main family. Baleen whales do not have teeth but do have a fine comb in their mouth, which they use to filter plankton and small fish from the water. They feed by allowing swallowing large gulps of water into their mouths and then filtering the food while pushing with their massive tongues the water out through their “teeth” or baleen, which acts as a colander and keeps the food in their mouth.

When to See Whales and Dolphins

The most viable time for whale and dolphin watching is between June and October, though there are some resident species that can be seen at any time. One thing to understand about a whale and dolphin watching trip is that it can be particularly tough to gauge exactly when they will show up. Whales cover a lot of water ocean in their home range, and although experienced guides can visit their most common grounds, they cannot predict with certainty when a whale will be there. Some species are very likely to emerge, such as dolphins, who often love riding bow wakes, but there is never a guarantee when it comes to seeing these majestic marine creatures.

Common and Popular Galapagos Whale and Dolphin Species

Though there are a large number of species that have been occasional visitors to the Galapagos islands, other species are seen with regularity each year, either as residents or regular migrants.

Orcas

Orcas, or killer whales, are found commonly in most of the world’s waters. They are broken into three population types: residents, transients, and offshore orcas. Residents are populations that stay in an area year-round and congregate in large, friendly groups. They are the most popular type of orcas to see while whale watching because they are playful and curious and have been known to interact with boats. Transient whales are the mammal-eaters. They travel in smaller hunting packs and spend less time interacting with people. Offshore whale groups are typically seen in the open ocean and travel in very large packs that roam worldwide. Very little is known about this whale group.

Blue Whales

The largest whale species in the world, as well as the largest animals, blue whales are an incredible sight to see. These baleen whales stretch the length of three football fields and typically live a solitary life in large, open-ocean settings. The Galapagos Islands are one of the few places near land where they are seen with some regularity.

Humpback Whales

Galapagos Whales: Humpback Whale
It’S Common To Spot Humpback Whales In The Galapagos Islands During The Dry Season

These baleen whales are known for their playfulness, and they are one of the largest whale species that breach (leap from the water) regularly. They break the mold when it comes to baleen whales because they not only eat plankton but also small feeder fish. They feed by creating a bubble net that walls fish into a tight circle. Once they have been contained, the whale will swim beneath the column of fish and rise toward the surface with its mouth open wide. In Galapagos, Humpbacks are limited to the cooler months between June and October. Mostly cows with their calves are visible. These females generally do not forage while in Galapagos but rely on their fatty reserves while nursing their calves.

Bottlenose Dolphins

These dolphins are some of the most common marine mammals in the Galapagos Islands. They are frequently seen riding the wake of cruise ships, yachts, and other boats. Bottlenose dolphins travel in large groups, making them especially fun to spot while you’re whale and dolphin watching.

Sperm Whale

The classic whale from Moby Dick, sperm whales are the largest toothed whale and are part of a small family with only three existing species. They are solitary whales and fish eaters. In Galapagos occasionally pods come together of several individuals.

Minke Whale

This is one of the smaller species of baleen whale and also the world’s most populous baleen whale. It exists worldwide and feeds on plankton. These whales are typically 8-10 tons with pointed noses and white patches under the pectoral fins.

Bryde Whale

This may as well be the most common large whale seen in Galapagos. Also known as Tropical Whale, these large mammals are restricted to warmer seas.

Common Dolphin

Contrary to the name, common dolphins are less common in the Galapagos than bottlenose dolphins, though they are still regular visitors. They can be differentiated from bottlenose dolphins by the fact that they are a single color along their sides (bottlenose dolphins are two-toned, with a lighter belly than back) and have a dark stripe running from flipper to chin.

Learn more about Galapagos tips before your trip here

Updated:May 18, 2023

Published:October 19, 2016

CALL US TODAY

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Tour 2024 Package: 12 days / Quito, Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu / From USD 9,598 per person

SHARE THIS POST

RELATED POSTS

TravelandLeisure.com

Condé Nast Traveler ONLINE

This small, secret rooftop of the restored Casa Gangotena mansion peers over Plaza San Francisco in the center of Quito’s colonial Old Town, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Order a Cedrón Spritz, a refreshing mix of rum, lemon, sparkling wine, and fresh lemon verbena (cedrón) syrup and leaf, then revel in the mesmerizing, real-time montage of daily life in Ecuador’s capital as it parades past.

National Geographic Traveller

A Font of information, Klaus has spent decades in the field, leading tours in the Amazon, Andes and Galapagos Islands. He hung up his guiding boots a few years back and now creates itineraries for the tour operator, Metropolitan Touring. Adrift in the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of miles from mainland South America, Galapagos is one of the most biodiverse locales on Earth.

Cruise Critic

Santa Cruz II is a replacement for the much-loved Santa Cruz, which plied the waters of the Galapagos for 36 years. It is not a new ship; it was built in 2002 and sailed as Mare Australis under the Australis cruise brand, operating expedition cruises around Cape Horn and to Antarctica. Metropolitan Touring bought the ship in 2015 and completely refurbished it, launching it as Santa Cruz II in October 2015.

Telegraph Ultra Travel: 50 Greatest Hotels in the World

When this modern, minimalist, glass-walled jungle lodge opened in 2012, it changed the accommodation game in South America. Arquitect Alfredo Ribadeneira’s “protective cocoon” would impress in a modern city; in the depths of an Andean cloudforest, it is wild, audacious and beautiful. Though only 70 miles from Quito, Maspi Lodge sits in splendid isolation, perched on a cliff at the end of an unsealed road.

Terms and Conditions

Itinerario de 5 días / 4 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (4214 USD + impuestos por persona)
Itinerario de 7 días / 6 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (5672 USD + impuestos por persona)
No reembolsable. Aplica únicamente para residentes ecuatorianos en nuevas reservas directas realizadas, hasta el 30 de junio del 2022, con un ejecutivo de ventas del hotel. Válido para estadías hasta el 31 de agosto de 2022. No puede ser combinada con otros descuentos, promociones u ofertas. El descuento no aplica para otros servicios. El precio no incluye recargo de combustible de $20 por noche de crucero.

We have what you are looking for!