At a Glance: Galapagos Islands
This guide introduces the main Galapagos islands and visiting sites across the archipelago, helping you understand which locations best suit your interests and how different tour formats shape the experience. It also links to individual island guides for a deeper look at each island.
The islands fall broadly into two categories: inhabited and uninhabited. Most well-balanced itineraries include both.
The inhabited islands, such as Santa Cruz and Isabela, offer highland ecosystems, giant tortoise reserves, lava tunnels, beaches, museums, and places to stay, along with abundant wildlife encounters on land and in surrounding waters.
The uninhabited islands are reached on guided day visits by boat (either a cruise ship or a day boat) and provide additional coastal and marine wildlife experiences.
