Things to Do in The Galápagos Islands

Green sea turtle, Urbina Bay

By Christopher Minster

The Galapagos Islands are packed full of things to do and see. Most visitors will be on cruise ships that pack in a tight itinerary of island visits, hikes, trips to sites of interest such as the Charles Darwin Research Station and snorkeling. If you’re signed up to a cruise, you’ll be pretty much stuck with the itinerary. If you have a couple of free days, however, there are still many things to see and do.

Scuba diving is a very popular activity in the islands, which are considered one of the top diving destinations in the world. There are some visitor sites near major towns that can be visited independently. The towns of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island) and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal Island) both have small streets dedicated to souvenir shops where you can get Galapagos t-shirts, Galapagos hats, Galapagos playing cards, you name it, they’ve put “Galapagos” on it and its for sale. The prices in the two towns are roughly the same for the same souvenirs.

On Santa Cruz Island, if you have the time, it is possible to go into the highlands to see the giant tortoises in their native habitats. There are also lava tubes, which are natural caves that can be hiked and explored. Tour agencies in Puerto Ayora can easily set up a day of visiting the highlands and lava tubes, or you can even make a deal with one of the taxi drivers for the same thing.