What is the size of the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos Islands are sometimes perceived as a comparatively small, neatly grouped group of islands. Guests sometimes assume that visiting them is as simple as driving across the Florida Keys or touring Iceland’s circle. However, our purpose in zooming out and taking a few measures is to refute that for you. 

 Pop Question: The Galapagos Islands are located where? 

 It’s crucial to keep in mind that 97% of the Galapagos Islands are officially classified as National Parks, with the remaining 3% set aside for human habitation (estimated to number between 30 and 36,000). There are fourteen main islands and several smaller islets and islands that are off-limits to visitors and/or designated for use exclusively in scientific studies. Volcanic eruptions, of which there are still many to come, are the cause of most of these islands. 

 How far apart are the islands? What is the approximate duration required to tour the Galapagos Islands? 

 When traveling between islands, the Santa Cruz II often travels at an average speed of 10 knots (18 km/h – 11.5mph), covering 13.7 nautical miles (25.3 nautical kilometers) during the noon and 53 nautical miles (98 nautical kilometers) during the night. 

 Why? 

 It is significantly influenced by the number and configuration of islands within the archipelago. Our minimum suggested stay in the Galapagos is the golden five days, for a variety of reasons, one of which is the archipelago’s immense vastness. This is also the reason the archipelago is divided into three equally distinct zones, each of which has a distinct collection of islands and fauna. You will see the finest that the Galapagos has to offer on every itinerary of the Santa Cruz II Galapagos Cruise, so don’t worry. 

 An additional benefit of each route is that the majority of its navigation is completed at night, giving you enough opportunity to appreciate the visiting sites during the day. 

 How large are the Galapagos Islands, then? 

Santiago Island has a number of tourist destinations, including Buccaneer Cove, Puerto Egas, and Sullivan Bay

 The whole area of the Galapagos Islands is 45,000 square kilometers (17,000 square miles) of water, of which 7,880 square kilometers (3,040 square miles) are on land. Or, to put it another way, just around 18% of the Galapagos is land, which is about the same area as the states of Mississippi or Greece. 

 In order from smallest to largest, below is a list of some of the larger Galapagos Islands: 

1. Genovesa: 14 sq km / 5.4 sq mi 
2. Baltra: 21 sq km / 8 sq mi 
3. Espanola: 60 sq km / 23 sq mi 
4. Floreana: 173 sq km / Inhabited. 
5. San Cristobal: 557 sq km / 215 sq mi. Inhabited. 
6. Santiago: 572 sq km / 220 sq mi 
7. Fernandina: 642 sq km / 247 sq mi 
8. Santa Cruz: 986 sq km / 380 sq mi. Inhabited. 
9. Isabela: 3,670 sq km / 1,416 sq mi (almost half of the entire landmass of Galapagos!). Inhabited. 

When it comes to the size of the islands, however, there’s a catch: because of their ongoing volcanic activity, some of the Galapagos are constantly expanding and creating new territory every day. Additionally, they are moving in the direction of South America by around 1 inch, or 2.5 cm.