10 Outdoor Activities in Galapagos Islands That You Shouldn't Miss

December 28, 2021 Vergie Nakamoto

Abundant wildlife above and below the waves draws eco-tourists to Ecuador's Galapagos. Get up close on a stroll or in a Zodiac boat. Snorkel and dive with denizens of the deep, from sea lions to sea turtles at Santiago's Cousin's Rock. Hike by finches, flamingos and iguanas along the Darwin Trail. Admire Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela. As visitor numbers are limited within the islands' National Park, book your boat tour through a tour operator. Visit January through April for the best snorkeling.
Restaurants in Galapagos Islands

1. Punta Espinoza

Ecuador
Excellent
91%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 35 reviews

Punta Espinoza

Reviewed By 75steven - New Hartford, United States

What an incredible island. Lava fields, marine iguana, hawks, sally light footed crabs, and sea lions were everywhere. We just missed (3-4 days) an active lava flow event but so enjoyed our short visit to the youngest of all the islands. It's raw beauty and natural differences from the other islands added to our experience.

2. Playa El Manglecito

Ecuador http://ecuadorbeaches.org/beaches/galapagos-islands/manglecito-beach-san-cristobal/
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 2 reviews

Playa El Manglecito

Reviewed By Bobfatboy3

We stopped here for 2 hours on our tour to Kicker Rock. I am so glad that we did. The beauty of this beach will bring tears to your eyes.

3. Puerto Grande

Ecuador http://www.sancristobalgalapagos.gob.ec/en/index.php/san-cristobal/tourist-places/item/84-puerto-grande-beach
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3 reviews

Puerto Grande

4. Puerto Egas

Ecuador
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 5 reviews

Puerto Egas

Reviewed By Stephen7Continents - Ashbourne, United Kingdom

Puerto Egas was the location of the old salt mines, now long closed, though you'll see remains of the workers' houses. This is a wet landing by Zodiac boat onto a black lava sand beach. Take a change of shoes if you wish to do the walk (I recommend that you do). Training shoes will be OK. There is a marked loop path from the end of the beach, after the first 100' mostly flat and easy. You'll see lots of birds, including the Galápagos dove (blue ring around eyes). As you near the beach, there are many red crabs (see my photographs). If you are lucky, you'll also see sea lions on the rocks (again, see my photos). You can snorkel off the beach, and expect to see 000s of fish quite close to the back. We also saw a reef shark pass by. Please give me a "Helpful" vote if my little review has informed you.

5. Darwin Trail

Ecuador
Excellent
50%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
6%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16 reviews

Darwin Trail

Beginning at Darwin Bay Beach, this nature hiking trail leads to many seabird colonies, most notably those of the Red-footed and Masked Boobies, while passing by many cliffs and tide pools along the way.

Reviewed By jamasiangal

Bring the good camera. It is just so beautiful. The animals, the beach. Always bring: hat, sunscreen, refillable water bottle, rain jacket For those who have a little more trouble walking: walking sticks do help

6. Puerto Chino Beach

Ecuador https://ecuadorbeaches.org/beaches/galapagos-islands/puerto-chino-san-cristobal/
Excellent
70%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 324 reviews

Puerto Chino Beach

Reviewed By CherieC72 - Sydney, Australia

My husband and I have recently returned from a trip to the Galapagos Islands. The day that we went China Beach on San Cristobal, it was spectacular. Blue sky, perfect small waves, fabulous water temperature and super white sand. It was gorgeous. Coming from Australia where we have amazing beaches, this certainly compared to them. Unfortunately we had no wildlife around on our day, but that didn't spoil it for us. From the car park, I think it is about a 10 - 15 minute walk to the beach along a path where you can see many different cactus. We LOVED it. The only negative for me, is that there is no shade on the beach. I am very fair and really need to try and stay out of the sun if and when possible. However, I did my best to stay protected and we both loved. Take plenty of water and snacks. Enjoy.

7. Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay

South-West of the town of Puerto Ayora, 200350 Ecuador
Excellent
76%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,398 reviews

Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay

Reviewed By carlosvelascoteran

We went to Tortuga Bay on 2/21/2020. Day was sunny, warm. We walked from Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay, which by itself is a nice experience, looking at trees, iguanas and birds. We then got to the area of Tortuga Bay, which by itself has 3 separate segments, Playa Brava, Playa Mansa, and a small lagoon formed by a reef protecting it from the Playa Brava. The experience of swimming around iguanas and small "tintoreras" (sharks) was unbelievable. Water was refreshing. Birds were majestic. We have visited many places in the world, this was one of the best we have seen, highlighted by the successful way in which nature has been protected by the Ecuadorian government.

8. La Loberia

Ecuador
Excellent
70%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 497 reviews

La Loberia

Reviewed By myom624 - Coquitlam, Canada

After about a 10-minute walk along the seaside trail from the entrance area was arriving at this crescent-shaped beach just with a "moderate length" of about 300 meters (or just about 200 meters of it in a crescent preceded by about 100 meters of a straight line) where unfolded in front of my eyes was an estimate of about 15 adult sea lions (& may be about the same number of tiny young ones) mostly on the sand but also some in the water, and yes that "amazing spectacle" (without exaggeration since it was really pretty much the "next-to-best" scene featured on my Galapagos tourist card which features a number of sea lions on the long Tortuga Bay beach on Santa Cruz which I found in reality was just with iguanas and no sea lions at all) was what made my "day trip" to this island "absolutely worthwhile" (and that despite a pretty limited time of only about 6 hours spent on the Island before returning to Santa Cruz); also quite enjoyable at this beach site apart from seeing the sea lions was the wide-open sea view (although this beach being nowhere in comparable length to the Tortuga Bay beach on Santa Cruz & the "long beach" on Isabela), and yes it's actually from the trail to it than from the beach itself I would say that the sea view is a "more mesmerizing" one (with also a "high ridge" at some distance seen past the water). Leaving Santa Cruz at about 6 45 am on the boat LP Andy II (a round trip ticket of about 70 US$ which you can just get on like the day before from the ticket office near the pier on the "west end" of Ave. Charles Darwin) for about a 2.5-hour ride with my arrival time shortly after 9 am at the boat dock of this island, it was also pretty easy to find a taxi on the waterfront street for just a 5-to-10-minute ride to this beach site (actually only after breakfast at a 2-storied restaurant just across the street from the boat dock). And with only somewhat over an hour spent at this site (won't need much more at this relatively small beach unless you plan to swim), I walked about 40 minutes back to the town's waterfront passing by: this island's airport (which is right alongside the "solitary road" leading from this site shortly after leaving), the nice "street art scenes" (featuring some Galapagos animals & such) along a street section, the big fish statue (a marlin or such with a long snout) at a small roundabout where nearby is also a playground with a big "bronze sea lion", and the sizeable "name sign" of this island (a beautiful one if you look closely with each letter kind of "artistically designed") which is displayed right on the waterfront. And yes, back on the waterfront with still about 2 hours to spend before the "return boat" at 3 pm, it was a nice time spent watching the boats in the water & the sea lions on shore (including those among the rocks around the boat dock where actually I saw just about the same number of them as had been seen at this beach site).

9. El Garrapatero

NE of Puerto Ayora 19 km, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador +593 5-252-6189 http://www.galapagospark.org/sitio.php?page=el_garrapatero
Excellent
52%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 691 reviews

El Garrapatero

Reviewed By cesarmantillaand2018 - Quito, Ecuador

Accesible through paved road and pathway (rode a bike from Puerto Ayora). Top notch kayak and snorkeling equipment rental . Kayaking was great, through calm bay, to three other nearby beaches. Saw lots of sea turtles, marine iguanas, small bullsharks and lots of birds.

10. Cerro Brujo

Isola San Cristobal Ecuador
Excellent
73%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 109 reviews

Cerro Brujo

Reviewed By Bessie134 - Vancouver Island, Canada

You can't go wrong with this beach! Soft white powdery sand, beautiful landscape, and seclusion. You will need a boat to get here, and there are no facilities. Sea lions galore that are happy to play around you in the water.

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