Because the islands in the Galapagos are spread out, it is impossible to tour the entire archipelago in a single day.
To experience your chosen archipelago region properly, avoid Galapagos itineraries that fall below the minimum recommended number of 5 days. Tours shorter than this recommended duration often feel rushed and fall short of providing visitors with a comprehensive experience of this once-in-a-lifetime destination.
Based on the feedback of our Galapagos Experts, Naturalist Guides, and Guests, the following are the Top 7 islands to experience in the Galapagos. So make sure at least one of these is included in your Galapagos tour!
Get acquainted with the fantastic islands and visitor sites that are part of the Galapagos National Park.
Serving as a great visual introduction to Galapagos, Baltra functions as the departure and arrival point for flights to/from mainland Ecuador. During WWII, this island was occupied by the US Air Force and Navy as part of their military operations. Back then, Baltra Island was home to one of the largest airstrips in South America.
Climb up a wooden staircase to the summit of this island for a stunning view of its two beautiful bays and mesmerizing geological formations. Sea lions and penguins can often be seen around its iconic Pinnacle Rock. There is a sandy beach here with great swimming and snorkeling.
Home to an incredible white-sand beach, where swimming and snorkeling at the nearby islet is a must. However, one of the biggest draws of Española is that this is the only island in the Galapagos where the waved albatross can be seen between April and December.
It is the youngest island in the whole Galapagos archipelago. Walk among the hundreds of marine iguanas hanging on black lava rocks. Marvel at the flightless cormorants, penguins, pelicans, sea lions, and mangrove forests. Home to a colossal shield volcano that’s one of the most active in the whole archipelago!
Often cited for its somewhat eccentric human history that involved the arrival of numerous colonists and visitors (as well as one of the more quirky activities to partake in a while in the Galapagos), Floreana is also a place of beautiful landscapes and unique and colorful wildlife.
Commonly referred to as “Bird Island,” Genovesa is replete with a grand array of feathery creatures that can often be seen flying along its bay’s impressive cliffsides. This island is the only sunken crater in the archipelago that ships can head into and set anchor in. Worth noting is that only some boats go here, too!
It is one of the largest islands in the entire Galapagos archipelago, with a unique “seahorse” shape resulting from six large volcanic domes fusing. There’s plenty of wildlife, scenery, and history to be enjoyed here!
Palo Santo trees adorn this flat yet beautiful island with colonies of land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and magnificent frigatebirds. On the other side of the island, visitors will be treated to a beautiful beach, where waves crash onto the rocks and sea lions play in the surf.
The red hues of the mesmerizing beach here will captivate your eyes, along with its turquoise waters and lush green highlands. Not far from the shore, a nearby lagoon is often frequented by flamingos. Blue-footed boobies and pelicans can be seen nesting in the vicinity as well.
Home to one of the first human settlements in the entire archipelago, San Cristobal also holds the title of being the first island in the Galapagos that Charles Darwin first disembarked in 1835. It is the easternmost island of the archipelago, with a handful of incredible and iconic visitor sites.
With one of the largest human populations in the Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz Island is home to one of the most significant towns in the archipelago, Puerto Ayora. Consequently, the island has quite a decent number of restaurants, hotels, banks, bars, and shops. However, it still has several beautiful visitor sites worth checking out!
The only island where the unique Santa Fe iguana can be found. You’ll walk along the trail that takes you past colossal cacti and unique vegetation. By the shore, you’ll find sea lions relaxing by the island’s turquoise bay.
It offers a trail that loops around this relatively tiny sliver of an island. The first part of the trail goes past green and thorny opuntia cacti and then edges along the high cliffsides of the isle (frequented by numerous bird species) before finally coming to a bachelor sea lion colony that hangs out at the very corner of the island.
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