Eric took many thousands of photos during the nearly six weeks we’ve spent in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978. Here’s a selection of our favorite pictures of the world-famous wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.
Galapagos Islands wildlife
Eric took hundreds of pictures of sea lions in the Galapagos but the sleepy eyes and adorable pose of this baby sea lion napping in the sun really got us.
There are three kinds of boobies in the Galapagos. This one is a red-footed booby and the feet truly are spectacular, however, the color on its face is portrait worthy too.
Marine iguanas only exist in the Galapagos and their dinosaur-like selves are a common sight on some islands. We love the regal pose of this one, master of all it surveys.
Galapagos penguins, the smallest penguin species, are adorable no matter what. They’re irresistible when they shake like dogs.
This Galapagos tortoise took a quick break from mowing the lawn to give Eric his best wise-old-man face.
We were mesmerized by this group of cow nose rays as they passed under a pier.
Dinosaurs (in the form of marine iguanas) are alive and well in the Galapagos.
Blue-footed boobies usually live up to their name (which comes from a Spanish word for dumb), but Eric caught this one in a contemplative moment as it looked out to sea.
The omnipresent frigate bird is most often photographed for its iridescent feathers and red throat sack, but their unique silhouette is worth a shot too.
Eric’s camera did not disturb this napping sea lion who stayed submerged in a warm, shallow pool as it slept, occasionally exhaling bubbles.
A few special spots in the Galapagos archipelago are visited by Galapagos flamingos like this one.
Look left for a rare glimpse of juvenile marine iguanas.
The third type of booby in the Galapagos is called a Nazca booby though we think this one, caught having a stare-down with Eric’s lens, embodies the species’ former name: masked booby.
Sea lions are one of the most widely distributed of the animals in the Galapagos Islands and are particularly lovely on the islands with red sand, like this female coyly sunning herself.
They may no longer be able to fly, but flightless cormorants are perfectly capable of performing their own version of ballet on land and their stunted wings propel them perfectly underwater.
We admit that we smiled back at this land iguana.
Red-footed boobies setting up house for another season of chicks.
Marine iguanas pile up in the sun to warm their reptile bodies, mimicking the darkness, stillness, and geometry of the lava rock they live on.
Even birds that are seen in other parts of the world, like herons, take on a new intensity and regalness in the Galapagos.
Even if this young Galapagos tortoise could run away it wouldn’t bother. Animals in the Galapagos don’t see humans as predators so they’re less stressed by our presence, as this shot shows.
A burst of new growth mirrors the emerging colors of this land iguana on Santa Fe Island.
And THIS is how a mobula ray flies.
Tens of thousands of waved albatross congregate in the Galapagos every year in a spot that is the only nesting area for this species on earth.
A marine iguana soaks the warmth out of the volcanic rock.
Galapagos travel tips
- Part 1 in our Galapagos Islands Travel Guide series gives you the facts you need to plan your trip to the Galapagos Islands.
- Part 2 is our Santa Cruz Island Travel Guide including what to do and where to sleep on this tourist hub island.
- Part 3 tells you what to expect during boat trips to landings around Santa Cruz Island.
- Part 4 covers highlights from North Seymour, South Plaza, and Daphne Islands.
- Part 5 is our San Cristóbal Island Travel Guide.
- Part 6 covers what to expect during boat trips to Cerro Brujo, Punta Pitt, and Kicker Rock around San Cristóbal.
- Part 7 reveals highlights of visiting Santa Fe Island.
- Part 8 tells you what to expect on Genovesa Island.
- Part 9 gives you travel highlights from Fernandina Island.
- Part 10 helps you explore Isabela Island.
- Part 11 takes you around Santiago Island.
- Part 12 tells you what to expect on Floreana Island.
- Part 13 reveals what makes Española Island so special.
- Part 14 tells you how to take the best travel photos in the Galapagos.
- Part 15 brings you all the adventure of SCUBA diving in the Galapagos Islands.
- Part 16 help you pack like a pro for the Galapagos.
- Part 17 delivers answers to 5 top Galapagos travel questions.
- Part 19 reveals our favorite shots of landscapes and sunsets in the Galapagos.
Here’s more about travel in Ecuador
Here’s more about Island Travel
Here’s more about Galapagos Travel
See all of our Photo Essays
Wow, awesome close-up images, you must have a pretty expensive camera for such images because I think that some animal were pretty far from your position.
Thanks Jennifer. Though I do have a good camera, that has nothing to do with how close you can get to the animals in the Galapagos. One of the many things that make the islands unique is that most animals are completely unafraid of humans. They don’t run from you, you have to carefully walk around them so in response to your statement…. No, the animals were not far from my position.
In the Galapagos, you have to careful where you step, or you will literally crush an iguana or a nesting bird with chick. A point-and-shoot could get images that look as close.
That said, here were my photos from a 2009 trip there (the last of two times we went) — https://www.mindstormphoto.com/ecuador/91-galapagos-2009/
The Galapagos are such a bio-diverse place … thanks for sharing a bit of it for all of us at home!
Those manta rays are hilarious!
Um, what?! HOLY MOLY – I can’t believe you saw the ray travel like that. Wow! I was just about to say I’m partial to the penguin shot (because I never got to see one out of the water), but THAT, my friend, takes the cake. Very cool!
I happened to put together a photo post of wildlife, too, with a few gifs in there for good humor. But sadly, it’s missing an amazing ray shot. Guess I’ll just have to go back now. :)
Glad you liked the flying ray shot Shannon! Just one more reason why the Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s most outstanding places for wildlife photography.