Skip to content 
The Galapagos Islands is the only location on Earth where people can see penguins north of the equator. What could be superior? You won’t be subjected to the subfreezing temperatures in these animals’ more well-known environments. The only penguins living on the equator and the only ones who undergo two annual molts are the Galapagos Islands penguins. Galapagos penguins are the rarest of the 18 species of penguins!
DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN FIND PENGUINS IN THE GALAPAGOS?
The Galapagos Islands are home to colonies and patches of Galapagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus), primarily found on the Western side of the archipelago.
- The northern portion of Fernandina Island and the western flank of Isabela Island.
- Bartolome Island and Santiago Island’s eastern flank.
- The point on Floreana Island that faces north.
Source: Trans-Americas Journey
TALK TO A DESTINATION EXPERT
Diego Zapata
Rosa Mena
Sandy Lara
Diego Zapata
Rosa Mena
Sandy Lara
WHY ARE THEY LOCATED SO FAR NORTH?
How precisely these “tropical” penguins traveled this far north is still a mystery. About 4 million years ago, it was thought that they could reach the Galapagos’ shores securely. The Humboldt penguins, found around the coastlines of Chile and Peru, are the genetic ancestors of the Galapagos penguins.
They typically weigh about 5 pounds (2.5 kg) on average and are no taller than 19 inches (50 centimeters). They frequently linger out in small caverns and cracks near the coast. They would instead stay out of the intense heat of the Galapagos sun.
They frequently use these locations as launching pads to swim in the chilly, nutrient-rich Galapagos currents.
The current challenges they face are Galapagos hawks, owls, snakes, and invasive animals like dogs and cats.
WHAT EXPERIENCE CAN I HAVE WITH THE GALAPAGOS PENGUINS?
Through any of the Galapagos itineraries listed at the beginning of this blog! You may be able to spot them during one of our many snorkeling activities aboard Yacht Isabela II or during one of our coastal explorations, also known as panga (inflatable dinghy) rides! There’s also a chance that you see them while hiking along the rocky coasts. You might even be lucky enough to see them whiz past you while you’re snorkeling underwater!
Source: Yacht Isabela II
With between 1,500 and 4,700 people, the population is now less than half of what it was in the early 1970s. The Galapagos penguin population has not rebounded because of multiple extreme El Niño events in the 1980s and 1990s.
Javier Garcia
Eduardo Silva
Carolina Escobar
START PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Javier Garcia
Eduardo Silva
Carolina Escobar
Get in touch for more
CONTACT US
Whatever your experience, seeing Galapagos penguins will undoubtedly rank among the trip’s cutest highlights! They are a must-see for anyone planning a trip to the archipelago, which is why they are included in our BIG15 list of iconic species in the Galapagos, making them a must see for all those who wish to visit the archipelago! And it’s why they’re a part of all our itineraries!
So why hesitate about missing out?
