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With only 14 accessible islands, selecting the best islands to visit in Galapagos can be daunting. Naturally, determining one of the many Galapagos itineraries to take goes hand in hand with that problem. That’s why, based on the opinions of our qualified Naturalist Guides on board the Santa Cruz II Galapagos cruise, we would like to share our selection of the top 3 islands in the Galapagos to visit—in no particular order. Note: Many of our Galapagos BIG15 group of iconic species are found on these islands!
Make sure you visit the top best islands and more iconic landmarks of the Galapagos Islands!
One of the Best Islands to Visit in Galapagos Is Genovesa Island
As remote as it is, Genovesa Island attracts visitors with the fantastic experience provided by the abundance of birds and the surrounding landscape. Remember that only a few Galapagos boats include this island in their itineraries, as it is one of the few in the northern part of the archipelago. The fact that Genovesa is the only ship-accessible crater in the entire archipelago only accentuates this place’s rarity. It is also thought to be among the friendliest islands in the Galapagos because of the lovely bay where ships may anchor, which is a fantastic justification in and of itself.
Why you should visit it: Reputation as “Bird Island” (featuring the rare, red-footed booby!). Geological beauty.
Española Island
Many people consider Española the “Grand Central” of wildlife in the magical isles, so it’s not surprising that it ranks among the top islands in the Galapagos Islands to visit. This island, located far to the south of the archipelago, is well-known for the abundance of species that call it home. Fun Fact: Charles Darwin saw this island for the first time in 1835 while traveling on the HMS Beagle, although he did not set foot on it.
Reasons to go there: an abundance of species, including blue-footed boobies, waved albatrosses, and Nazca—the “blow hole” phenomenon in geology.
Fernandina Island
Fernandina Island is a stunning early Earth collection dotted with a gorgeous assortment of equally intriguing species. It is simultaneously spectacular and mesmerizing. Fernandina justly deserves its spot among the top islands to visit in the Galapagos, from the flightless cormorants that linger on the black, lava rock coast (which is dotted with a swarm of equally black marine iguanas) to the Galapagos penguins.
Why you should visit it: Penguins & Flightless Cormorants. “Youngest island,” geologically speaking.
