Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are home to some of the most spectacular wildlife species on the planet. It is no wonder that this magical archipelago proved so influential to the renowned biologist, Charles Darwin, whose time spent with the animals on the island inspired him to develop his revolutionary Theory of Evolution. 

Due to the remote location of the Galapagos, its ecosystems and food chains were able to develop organically and without any major predators. This led to the development of fascinating creatures and some of the most unique animal species in the world. 

Amidst all of this hype, you may be left thinking, what animals can you find on the Galapagos islands? From huge tortoises to the only penguin species to be seen north of the equator - it truly is a nature lover’s paradise! In fact, it is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. 

If you are planning a trip to this magical part of the world and wondering what to expect from its famed wildlife, we have gathered together a list of some of the best animals that you can find on the Galapagos Islands.

1. Galápagos Giant Tortoises

These iconic giant tortoises are kind of celebrities when it comes to the Galapagos Islands’ wildlife scene. Considering that they are impressively hefty - sometimes weighing up to 417kg - it comes as no surprise that these creatures have made a bit of a name for themselves. In fact, the very islands are named in homage to these burly critters, with “galapago” being Spanish for tortoise.

If that isn’t enough to convince you of their fame, this creature actually holds the title of the longest-lived land vertebrates on the planet and is likely to outlast us all, with most waddling about for over 100 years. These incredible creatures also played a monumental role in Darwin formulating his theory of natural selection; commonly recognised as his main source of inspiration! 

Perhaps unsurprising due to their size, the Galapagos giant turtles are rather lazy fellows that spend an average of 16 hours a day resting and are likely to be found chilling, nibbling on a yummy piece of vegetation.

A visit to this archipelago truly is not complete without catching a glimpse of these magnificent creatures, so if you are looking to find them, try heading to Isabela, Santa Cruz, and San Cristobal. Alternatively, you could tick off one of the best things to do in the Galapagos Islands by taking a trip to the Reserva El Chato Tortoise Ranch to see the wonderful work being done to preserve this magnificent species.

2. Blue-Footed Booby

Named both in honour of their chic turquoise feet and clumsy nature (with ‘booby’ meaning ‘fool’), the Blue-Footed Booby certainly isn’t your average bird and is easily one of the most unique animals on the Galapagos Islands. Endemic to the Pacific Ocean, these striking animals often stop off on the archipelago to have a break from flying.

Apart from their eye-catching feet, the blue-footed baby has quite a traditional appearance, with soft brown wing feathers and a little white head, but this just makes their jazzy lower half appear all the more striking! If you happen to visit during mating season, you might just be lucky enough to see them put on quite a show.

The blue-boobies are known to have quite the flashy courtship ritual that involves the male flashing his statement blue feet by stamping and posing dramatically, as if he is busting a few moves on the dance floor. If the female approves, she will join in on the dance too. 

While these magnificent birds are to be found on most of the islands in the archipelago, North Seymour has a large nesting ground and might be your best bet for catching the blue-footed boobies cutting some shapes!

3. Marine Iguanas

Only found in the Galapagos, the Marine Iguana is actually the only seagoing lizard left on the planet and is one of the most unique animals in the archipelago. Although they appear a little intimidating with scaly skin, spikes along their back and hissing sounds coming from their glands, these creatures are very gentle herbivores that pose no threat to humans. 

The strange noise produced by marine iguanas is actually just the sound of them ejecting the excess salt that collects in their nasal glands as a result of their seaweed-based diet. In fact, these are just little sneezes instead of signs of aggression.

While these marine iguanas are not the most nimble when they are on land, they are in their element in water, with these skilled athletes being able to dive to depths of up to 30 feet in the water. 

Stylish creatures, the adults remain black for most of the year apart from the mating season, when the male iguanas change colour to catch the attention of eligible females. Each subspecies turns a different shade, with the most colourful ones to be found on the islands of Española and Floreana where these flirty fellows turn bright green and red.

However, if you aren’t fussy about seeing them at their brightest, you best head to Isabela and Fernandina which are home to the largest of the species of the marine iguanas. Look out for these fascinating reptiles by the coast, particularly along shorelines, in marshes and on the rocks.

4. Galapagos Penguin 

Undeniably the cutest of all the animals that live on the Galapagos Islands, these tiny creatures are the smallest penguins in the world, standing at an average of 49cm and weighing around 5 pounds. Old romantics, these creatures mate for life and spend a lot of their time cooling off in the waters of the archipelago while searching for some tasty fish to eat.

One of the many animals only found on the Galapagos Islands, these adorable waddlers are a truly amazing sight to see and are a favourite amongst many of the visitors of the archipelago. Unfortunately, they are also the most endangered of all the wildlife species on the islands, with only 1,000-1,300 pairs thought to be left in existence, although conservation efforts have begun to try to protect this amazing sea bird species.

For the best chance of seeing these marvellous creatures, head to the coast of Isabela and Fernandina islands. Alternatively, you could head to Bartolome Island to be in with a chance of being able to join them for a swim by Pinnacle Rock.

5. Sally Lightfoot Crabs 

Standing at 3 to 5 inches long and weighing just 5 pounds, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the little Sally Lightfoot Crabs are easily missed. However, being one of the most colourful animals of the Galapagos, these stylish critters never fail to make a fashion statement and stand out against the volcanic rocks that they tend to be nestling amongst.

A stunning combination of vivid shades of red, orange and yellow, they are like little scuttling sunsets that provide a striking contrast against the islands’ volcanic shorelines. Nimble creatures, the Sally Lightfoot Crabs are named in honour of their ability to travel along the surface of the water.

These caring crustaceans are good friends to have, known to look out for their fellow archipelago natives, the marine iguanas, by kindly picking off their ticks for them. You are likely to spot a few of these remarkable creatures during your stay in the Galapagos, tending to be found scattered amongst the rocks on the coast of the islands.

6. Galápagos Land Iguanas

Land iguanas are not exactly easy on the eye - they’re definitely one of the less attractive animals Darwin found on the Galapagos Islands. In fact, he famously described them as “ugly animals” with a “singularly stupid appearance”. 

Perhaps he caught the creatures on a bad day, as although they certainly have a distinctive look, they certainly are a fascinating sight to behold! With bright yellow-orange skin, enormous feet and mustard-coloured eyes, they can appear a touch intimidating, but are actually primarily harmless little herbivores who love on prickly pear leaves and whatever fruit they can get their hands on. 

Land iguanas have scored a good deal with the finches on the islands, who can often be seen chilling on the lizards’ backs and removing the tasty ticks from their skin - a win-win situation! Usually residing in the drier areas of the islands, these fascinating animals are usually spotted amongst the rocks and trees of many of the islands including Fernandina, Isabela and Santa Cruz, the latter of which is home to two of the best beaches in the Galapagos.

7. Waved Albatross 

Magnificent birds with wingspans of seven to eight-foot, the Waved Albatrosses are  remarkable creatures that soar high above the waters of the archipelago during their mating season.  If you are lucky enough to visit during this period you should keep a careful eye on these creatures, as they are known to put on a show with an elaborate mating dance that involves whistling, honking, bill clicking and bowing.

As these birds mate for life, being able to catch a glimpse of them making this romantic gesture is made all the more special. During the rest of the year, the creatures take to the skies of the South American coast in pursuit of some more grub. 
Named in honour of the curved pattern of their wings, they fly above the sea, swooping down to catch a bite of squid and fish. Dynamic soaring - a clever flying technique that limits their energy consumption -  allows the waved albatrosses to fly for hours straight without breaking a sweat. 

If you want to see these remarkable birds, you should head to Espanola Island between April and December as this is when they head over there to nest.

Summary

A very special place in the world, visiting the Galapagos islands and seeing some of the rarest and most unique animal species in the world will be an experience you will never forget. From gigantic tortoises to tiny penguins, there are so many exciting creatures to catch sight of in what is sure to be a fabulous adventure and a display of nature at its very finest.

If you are lucky enough to have the chance to see some of the rare Galapagos Islands animals, make sure you are gentle and respectful. After all, they are some of the most famous creatures in the world.

If you’re planning on visiting the Galapagos Islands and are looking for a tour provider that can show you many of the incredible animals listed above, get in touch with us at Touring Galapagos and find out more about the cruises and holiday packages we offer.