This post is part 19 of 20 in the series Galapagos Islands Travel Guide

When people travel to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978, they assume they’re going to get great photos of wildlife–we took thousands of pictures of animals (which we kindly edited down to this 24 shot selection our best shots of wildlife in the Galapagos Islands). But even when there are no critters in sight, the epic sunsets and sunrises and the only-in-the-Galapagos landscapes will keep your camera busy.

Sunsets and landscapes of the Galapagos Islands

wolf island sunset

Wolf Island, at the most northerly end of the Galapagos archipelago, is rarely visited except by dive boats.

bartolome island view

Pinnacle Rock juts up from mostly barren Bartolome Island.

hike dragon hill galapagos

Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island is home to a large population of land iguanas.

color South Plaza island Galapagos

Spring color in foliage just off the beach on South Plaza Island is in deep contrast with the starkly blue water.

Darwin lake tagus cove galapagos

Darwin’s Lake, in this dormant crater on Isabella Island above Tagus Cove, provides life-giving water and breath-taking views.

MV Grace Galapagos sunsetalpagos-sunset

We spent nearly six weeks in the Galapagos Islands and pretty much every single evening ended like this.

Darwn arch darwin island galapagos

At the far northern end of the Galapagos archipelago lies Darwin Island and Darwin Arch and some of the best scuba diving in the world.

Port Egas on Santiago Island offers a sandy arch of beach and dramatic volcanic rock formations and is favored by sunning sea lions.

Punta Vicente Roca Galpagos

The Punta Vicente Roca Volcano on Isabela Island is one of our favorite destinations in the Galapagos, providing dramatic topside scenery and some of the best snorkeling we’ve ever done in the bay at its base.

sun rays galapagos

Good morning, Galapagos.

kicker rock Galapagos

Iconic Kicker Rock in sunset light.

Dragon Hill Galapagos

A beach is never just a beach in the Galapagos Islands. This one offers creamy sand, jagged lava, and lapping waves.

rabida island galapagos

Rábida Island’s red sand beach and scrub cover are begin rid of invasive goats so that natural vegetation and endemic species can return.

Los Gemelos sinkholes Santa Cruz

There are lush parts of the Galapagos Islands as well, including the Los Gemalos twin craters in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.

Galapagos color

Galapagos color, all-natural, and unfiltered.

amazing galapagos sunset

Good night, Galapagos.

Galapagos travel tips

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

 


Series Navigation:Photo Essay: Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands >>

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