Galapagos Photography

The Galapagos Islands are known for its remarkable scenery and landscapes as well as for the wonderful wildlife. For this reason, visitors bring their cameras! It helps them capture every moment they spend in the archipelago. Moreover, Galapagos is a top-tier photography destination for both professional and beginners photographers. Make sure to keep reading so you capture the best photos ever!

What to bring

Cameras! It doesn’t matter its type or brand. Trying to bring multiple cameras is a smart option because there are numerous cameras at the bottom of the sea that were dropped by incautious tourists. Drops are also frequent on rocky pathways. Make sure to bring plenty of memory space and cards, as well as spare batteries or charges. Remember that using flash on your cameras is not permitted in protected areas.

Bring a proper type of camera

The Galapagos creatures aren’t afraid to get up close and personal with visitors in the islands’ neighborhoods, beaches, and bays. Try to pick  a good camera with any zoom settings to enjoy the benefits of this. A GoPro, waterproof camera is also suggested for any water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving or other day journeys on the water.

Get to know the animals!

This is very important! Find a good travel reference book or check our list of Galapagos wildlife in the web page menu and take some time reviewing their characteristics. Discover how they move, how they look, what they eat and what colors they have. Then start planning how to take the best pictures when encountering these animals. This could make a huge difference between a good and a great image.

Schedule photos time

It is certainly a fact that taking a cruise is the best way to take incredible photos! Nevertheless, staying on land will also be a good scenery for this. Make sure to schedule some time on and off land to experience both landscapes and wildlife. Also, do some research on what time of the day is the best to take pictures!

An unforgettable experience

Getting to dive in The Galapagos Islands is truly a magical and unforgettable experience! Dive sites can be found on almost every Galapagos island. Each place is distinct and will suit a different level of diver experience. It ranges from strong currents and should only be attempted by experienced divers, while others are calm and appropriate for people who are unfamiliar with diving. A minimum quantity of previous dives may be required for the most advanced dive sites.

Best diving spots

• Darwin’s Island: considered a “marine wonderland”, Darwin’s Island is perfect for diving. Among the animals you can run across when diving here are hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, rays, green turtles, and a variety of tropical reef fish. Both Darwin and Wolf Islands are susceptible to unrestricted fishing and dive tourism because of their significant distance from the core islands.

• Wolf’s Island: the diving areas surrounding Isla de los Lobos de Galapagos are composed of volcanic platforms, cliffs, and underwater caverns that are filled with a variety of marine life. Wolf is also famous because the vampire finch is a well-known and unique native to be on the lookout for (also known as the sharp-nosed ground finch). 

• Carrion Point Dive Site: the surface of Punta Carrión is 90 feet below sea level. White tip reef sharks, scorpion fish, marbled and eagle rays, sea lions, turtles, vividly colored reef fish, scorpion fish and even dolphins are among the marine fauna to keep a watch out for.

• Cowley Islet: perfect place for diving and seeking beautiful marine wildlife. It was given that name in honor of Ambrose Cowley, an English pirate who created the first maps of the Galapagos. Due to the variety of marine life you may see there, including sea lions, sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, penguins, manta rays, and even seahorses that are shaped like Isabela Island, it is the ideal location for diving.

• Cape Marshall: this wall dive is a perfect option for people who have experience scuba diving since its currents are heavy. Cape Marshall is a reef dive that can be found 120 feet off the northwest coast of Isabela. Here, visitors get the chance to encounter sea lions, schools of Barracuda, Guineafowl Pufferfish, Parrotfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, and Whitetip and Hammerhead Reef Sharks. As well as, giant rays like Manta, Mobula and Marble which swim slowly in the deep waters.

• Vicente Rock Point: this is a stopping point for diving vessels like the Galapagos Sky. This dive is a wall dive with lots of coral-covered crevices to search for underwater life. Typically, currents are weak and visibility is good. This stunning site is perfect for snorkeling which you can only get access by boats since there is no place for landing. Tourists should keep their eyes open to witness puffer fish, octopus, seahorses, frogfish, red-lipped batfish, seahorses, and other reef fish. Sea lions, seagulls, and penguins frequently dive here in search of fish.

Important info!

The majority of the equipment is provided on Galapagos dive cruise, however, wherever possible tourists should bring their own equipment to the Galápagos islands which includes your own dive set, watch and gadgets. 

The standard usually varies depending on the operator, but it is generally in good condition and safe working order. Divers are also welcome to bring their own equipment if they prefer.

Be safe and enjoy every moment! This will leave rent free on your mind forever.

Ways of transferring to different places

After doing all the paperwork to travel to the Galápagos Islands and visit all the beautiful and mesmerizing places and wildlife, you’ll have the opportunity to choose where to arrive. There are 2 options available: San Cristobal Island or Baltra Island. Although San Cristobal Island is quite close to town, attempting to land at the Baltra Island airport requires a transfer from Batra to Puerto Ayora. 

Baltra Island is located in the Galapagos, just up the coast of Santa Cruz Island. During World War II, the original airport and track at Baltra served as a US airbase. This island has a   small airport that receives flights daily from mainland Ecuador’s cities of Quito and Guayaquil. It is critical to emphasize that international flights to the Beautiful Islands are not available.

Even though Baltra Island does not have specific spots to tour or to stay in (hotels), it is still considered a place to spend the day due to the interesting and large amount of history you can find in the area. Above everything, people that come to Baltra enter but also leave the archipelago with gratitude.

To Puerto Ayora, take a taxi or take the bus

Here in Puerto Ayora you’ll get the chance to do a lot of things. Visitors often site anywhere along the Itabaca Channel. In this place, you will also have 2 options of transportation. By taxi or by taking the bus.

Santa Cruz taxis are usually pickup trucks and they are colored white. A taxi ride from the Itabaca Channel to Puerto Ayora costs around $20 US dollars. There will be drivers waiting at the port who will offer you a ride into town. Do not be shy to make some friends so you get the chance to share the costs. The driver will transport you to any location in town.

On the other hand, several buses will be waiting to pick up passengers and transport them to Puerto Ayora. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. These buses are frequently overcrowded, and they lack air conditioning. The same bus will drop you off at the town’s main intersection of Charles Darwin Avenue and Baltra Avenue. 

The Itabaca Channel crossed by ferry

By taking this option of transportation, you only grab your bags, go to the ferry at Itabaca Channel and put them on the roof of it. The Itabaca Channel could very well take you about 10 minutes to cross. It’s an excellent opportunity to photograph the Galapagos Islands for the first time: beautiful clear waters, beautiful green vegetation, and dazzling landscapes!

Taking the bus to the “Itabaca Channel”

You must catch a bus to the Itabaca channel after collecting your luggage and presenting your luggage tag to the person standing at the exit. These buses are usually parked outside of the terminal. If there isn’t one, don’t worry, one will arrive soon. You can store your bags in the baggage compartment or bring them along with you on the bus. The bus ride lasts about 5 minutes and takes you to the Itabaca Channel, which connects Santa Cruz and Baltra.

Enjoying your own company

Always take in mind that a solo vacation is an ideal time to connect with yourself and with your emotions and thoughts. So, why not travel alone to the Galápagos Islands? Solo travel is mostly recommended for people that enjoy experiencing new things as well as to discover and learn. In the Islands, you’ll get the chance to practice incredible activities and enjoy many adventures where flora and fauna will leave you mesmerized!

It is safe!

Since Galápagos has a relatively small population, the majority of local residents appear to know each other and always greet every visitor with a warm and welcoming attitude. And whenever it comes to their native neighbors and friends, the Galapagos creatures, “Galapagueos” (as the locals are known) are the most respectful. Because the towns in the Galapagos are fairly small, there is no reason to worry regarding getting lost or wandering into any unsafe areas at any time of day.

Choosing cruises over hotels

By choosing a cruise over a hotel, this will allow you to see more species and islands during your trip to the Galapagos. Before you choose a cruise, look for those that provide the most value at the lowest possible price. It should always be more essential to pay for what you require while on the Galapagos Islands rather than to save money.

More people like you!

If you’re worried about the amount of visitors you’ll encounter on your trip, rest assured that the Galapagos Islands are well protected from tourism activity. In fact, the Galapagos National Park covers 97% of the archipelago. It is one of the world’s most strictly regulated and protected tourist destinations.

Renting taxis and bikes is a common thing on the inhabited islands, this way visitors can quickly get from where they are to where they want to go using either of these convenient modes of transportation. Another advantage is that several visitor sites (not inside the National Park) are frequently walkable of the main towns.