Galápagos Islands

🇪🇨 Ecuador

🦎 Marine Iguanas Basking on Black Lava
🌍 #102 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #17 in South America #6 in Desert & Scrub
Galápagos, Ecuador 388 spp. recorded

Nowhere else do wild animals ignore people so completely. Galápagos sea lions lie on the landings on virtually every visit, marine iguanas — the only lizard in the world that feeds in the sea — pack the black rock on nineteen visits in twenty.

0.138° N   90.629° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Marine Iguana ★
VU Endemic

Marine Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

70–80% · Very likely
Galápagos Giant Tortoise ★
CR Endemic

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis niger

40–50% · Likely
Galapagos Sealion ★

Galapagos Sealion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zalophus wollebaeki

70–80% · Very likely
Common Land Iguana ★
VU Endemic

Common Land Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Conolophus subcristatus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

80–90% · Very likely
Yellow Warbler
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

80–90% · Very likely
Blue-footed Booby
LC

Blue-footed Booby

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sula nebouxii

80–90% · Very likely
Magnificent Frigatebird
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

70–80% · Very likely
Small Ground-Finch
LC Endemic

Small Ground-Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geospiza fuliginosa

70–80% · Very likely
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

60–70% · Likely
Requiem shark

Requiem shark

🌅 Crepuscular Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus limbatus

60–70% · Likely
Brown Noddy
LC

Brown Noddy

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anous stolidus

60–70% · Likely
White-spotted Eagle Ray

White-spotted Eagle Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Aetobatus ocellatus

60–70% · Likely
Striated Heron
LC

Striated Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides striata

50–60% · Likely
Lava Heron
Endemic

Lava Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides sundevalli

50–60% · Likely
Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Galapagos Sealion ★

Galapagos Sealion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zalophus wollebaeki

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Galápagos Fur Seal
EN Endemic

Galápagos Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus galapagoensis

20–30% · Possible
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

10–20% · With luck
Killer Whale

Killer Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Orcinus orca

5–10% · With luck
Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

5–10% · With luck
Common Dolphin
LC

Common Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Delphinus delphis

5–10% · Rare
Galápagos Rice Rat
VU Endemic

Galápagos Rice Rat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aegialomys galapagoensis

<5% · Rare
Short-finned Pilot Whale
LC

Short-finned Pilot Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Globicephala macrorhynchus

<5% · Rare
Eden's Whale
LC

Eden's Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Balaenoptera edeni

<5% · Rare
Blue Whale
EN

Blue Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Balaenoptera musculus

<5% · Rare
Sperm Whale
VU

Sperm Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Physeter macrocephalus

<5% · Rare
Cuvier's Beaked Whale
LC

Cuvier's Beaked Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ziphius cavirostris

<5% · Rare
Minke Whale
LC

Minke Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

80–90% · Very likely
Yellow Warbler
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

80–90% · Very likely
Blue-footed Booby
LC

Blue-footed Booby

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sula nebouxii

80–90% · Very likely
Magnificent Frigatebird
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

70–80% · Very likely
Small Ground-Finch
LC Endemic

Small Ground-Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geospiza fuliginosa

70–80% · Very likely
Brown Noddy
LC

Brown Noddy

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anous stolidus

60–70% · Likely
Striated Heron
LC

Striated Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides striata

50–60% · Likely
Lava Heron
Endemic

Lava Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides sundevalli

50–60% · Likely
Elliot's Storm Petrel

Elliot's Storm Petrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oceanites gracilis

50–60% · Likely
Galápagos Shearwater
LC

Galápagos Shearwater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Puffinus subalaris

50–60% · Likely
Galápagos Mockingbird
LC Endemic

Galápagos Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus parvulus

50–60% · Likely
Nazca Booby
LC

Nazca Booby

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sula granti

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Marine Iguana ★
VU Endemic

Marine Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

70–80% · Very likely
Galápagos Giant Tortoise ★
CR Endemic

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis niger

40–50% · Likely
Common Land Iguana ★
VU Endemic

Common Land Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Conolophus subcristatus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

50–60% · Likely
Santa Cruz Lava Lizard
LC Endemic

Santa Cruz Lava Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Microlophus indefatigabilis

50–60% · Likely
San Cristobal Lava Lizard
NT Endemic

San Cristobal Lava Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Microlophus bivittatus

40–50% · Likely
Isabela Lava Lizard
LC Endemic

Isabela Lava Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Microlophus albemarlensis

30–40% · Possible
Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise
CR

Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis porteri

30–40% · Possible
Mourning Gecko
LC

Mourning Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lepidodactylus lugubris

30–40% · Possible
Hood Lava Lizard
LC Endemic

Hood Lava Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Microlophus delanonis

20–30% · Possible
Santiago Lava Lizard
LC Endemic

Santiago Lava Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Microlophus jacobii

20–30% · Possible
Santa Fe Land Iguana
VU Endemic

Santa Fe Land Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Conolophus pallidus

10–20% · With luck
Floreana Lava Lizard
NT Endemic

Floreana Lava Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Microlophus grayii

10–20% · With luck
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

10–20% · With luck
Santa Fe Lava Lizard
Endemic

Santa Fe Lava Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Microlophus barringtonensis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Fowler's Snouted Tree Frog
LC

Fowler's Snouted Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Scinax quinquefasciatus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

60–70% · Likely
Requiem shark

Requiem shark

🌅 Crepuscular Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus limbatus

60–70% · Likely
White-spotted Eagle Ray

White-spotted Eagle Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Aetobatus ocellatus

60–70% · Likely
Diamond Stingray

Diamond Stingray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Hypanus dipterurus

50–60% · Likely
Hawkray

Hawkray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Rhinoptera steindachneri

40–50% · Likely
Scalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Sphyrna lewini

40–50% · Likely
Blotched Fantail Ray

Blotched Fantail Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Taeniurops meyeni

30–40% · Possible
Galápagos Shark

Galápagos Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus galapagensis

30–40% · Possible
Oceanic Manta Ray

Oceanic Manta Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Mobula birostris

20–30% · Possible
🦈 No photo available

Peruvian horn shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Heterodontus quoyi

20–30% · Possible
Lesser Devil Ray

Lesser Devil Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Mobula thurstoni

10–20% · With luck
Whale Shark

Whale Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Rhincodon typus

5–10% · With luck

Animal Events

🦎

Marine Iguanas and Giant Tortoises

JulAugSep

Marine iguanas pack the shoreline rocks to warm up and giant tortoises move through the uplands.

Galápagos Giant Tortoise
CR Endemic

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonoidis niger

40–50% · Likely
Marine Iguana
VU Endemic

Marine Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

70–80% · Very likely
🦭

Sea Lions and Fur Seals Pupping

NovDec

Galápagos sea lions and fur seals fill the beaches and landings with pups.

Galapagos Sealion

Galapagos Sealion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zalophus wollebaeki

70–80% · Very likely
Galápagos Fur Seal
EN Endemic

Galápagos Fur Seal

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctocephalus galapagoensis

20–30% · Possible
🐦

Boobies and Frigatebirds Court

MarApr

Blue-footed boobies dance in their courtship display and magnificent frigatebirds inflate their red throat pouches.

Magnificent Frigatebird
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

70–80% · Very likely
Blue-footed Booby
LC

Blue-footed Booby

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sula nebouxii

80–90% · Very likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
Marine Iguana
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
Galápagos Giant Tortoise
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
Galapagos Sealion
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Common Land Iguana
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Brown Pelican
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Yellow Warbler
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
Blue-footed Booby
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
Magnificent Frigatebird
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
Small Ground-Finch
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
Whitetip Reef Shark
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Requiem shark
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Brown Noddy
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
White-spotted Eagle Ray
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Striated Heron
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
Lava Heron
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
Green Turtle
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🦎 Marine Iguanas and Giant Tortoises
🦭 Sea Lions and Fur Seals Pupping
🐦 Boobies and Frigatebirds Court

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦎 Marine Iguanas Basking on Black Lava

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
233
🐒 Mammals
74
🦎 Reptiles
56
🐸 Amphibians
2
🦈 Sharks & Rays
23
388 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
61 Threatened 78 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
73%
📊
Coverage (107 species at ≥5% of 388 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
28%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 3 elasmobranch, 1 reptile, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
78%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
62
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
8
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
30

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Galápagos Islands?

The most likely sightings are Brown Pelican (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Yellow Warbler (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Blue-footed Booby (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Magnificent Frigatebird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Marine Iguana (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 388 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Galápagos Islands for wildlife?

July has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Marine Iguana in Galápagos Islands?

Yes — about 79% of wildlife watchers report a Marine Iguana sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 3,015 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Galápagos Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands?

Yes — about 48% of wildlife watchers report a Galápagos Giant Tortoise sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 851 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Galapagos Sealion in Galápagos Islands?

Yes — about 77% of wildlife watchers report a Galapagos Sealion sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 2,770 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Land Iguana in Galápagos Islands?

Yes — about 55% of wildlife watchers report a Common Land Iguana sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 1,134 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

Galápagos Islands or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Isla del Coco National Park 📍 717 km 🦈 Schooling Hammerhead Shark Waters

Isla del Coco National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #207 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #34 in Central America #92 in Tropical Forest
Machalilla National Park 📍 1121 km 🐦 Blue-footed Boobies on Isla de la Plata

Machalilla National Park

🇪🇨 Ecuador 🌍 #76 Global · 4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #9 in South America #29 in Tropical Forest
Manuel Antonio National Park 📍 1195 km 🐒 Monkeys & Sloths in the Trees

Manuel Antonio National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #91 Global · 4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #15 in Central America #39 in Tropical Forest
Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 📍 1209 km 🐒 Reliable Monkey Sightings

Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #158 Global · 3.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #26 in Central America #75 in Tropical Forest