A magical animal kingdom

The blue-footed booby is one of the Galapagos icons. The name booby, comes from the Spanish word bobo, clown. With its funny appearance this bird is very popular with visitors.

Of the 17 species of penguins that live on the planet, the Galapagos penguin is the second smallest penguin in the world and the only penguin that lives north of the equator. It is quite rare to see the penguin on the Galapagos. Galapagos penguins nest in loose colonies in holes or crevices close to the coast and breed all year round.

A total of 28 different reptile species have been registered on the Galapagos. No less than 19 of these species are endemic to the archipelago. The reptiles are the most prehistoric-looking animals that occur here, and even though they might look a bit scary, they will not hurt anyone.

On the Galapagos, you will undoubtedly encounter an iguana. The marine iguana is an excellent swimmer and it is very funny to see a small head sticking out of the water. Furthermore, there are three kinds of iguanas that live on land; the land iguana, the pink land iguana and the Santa Fe land iguana which, as the name suggests, only occurs on the island of Santa Fe.

When the Bishop of Panama discovered the archipelago, the giant tortoises must have been one of the most striking animals on the archipelago, estimated at the time at around 100,000 tortoises. For centuries these animals have been hunted and now there are only about 15,000 of them. Standing face to face with one of these giants is an unforgettable experience.

Upon arrival on one of the islands you will be immediately welcomed by the important inhabitants of the Galapagos; the sea lion. The animals will claim a spot on a bench or sunbathe on the same beach where you want to put down your beach towel, without any problems. While snorkelling, it is possible that a young curious sea lion wants to play with you.

The waters around the islands are also rich in wildlife. This is where seven major oceanic currents meet, responsible for an unusual but very impressive underwater world. Sea turtles, sea lions, rays, sharks, seahorses and large schools of coloured fish are only a few examples of what you can see during an afternoon of snorkelling.

Do you have a passion for diving? Undoubtedly, you have already taken a look at all the diving possibilities for during your stay. Diving is definitely worthwhile. It is possible to make a specific diving cruise, but it is also possible to add a day of diving to another cruise or during a stay ashore. We will be happy to inform you about the possibilities.