Galapagos with children

Island hopping in the Galapagos Islands: tips & to-dos

Choosing a favorite country is difficult. Countries are often so different and each is special in its own way. But if I have to choose a destination that you must visit with your children, it would be the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are a true paradise for animals. Nowhere else in the world can you find so many unique animals so accessibly. The animals live alongside humans here and are truly everywhere. Marine iguanas, sea lions, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sharks, sea turtles, Galapagos penguins, red rock crabs—you can see them all up close here!

This blog is written by Karen.

Galapagos with children - tips and to do's

♥ Island hopping in the Galapagos Islands
♥ Santa Cruz
♥ Isla Isabela
♥ Isla de San Cristóbal

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Galapagos with children - Island hopping

The Galapagos consists of 13 larger islands and 115 smaller islets. Four of these islands are inhabited: San Cristóbal, Isabela, Santa Cruz, and Floreana. It’s not necessary to book an expensive cruise. You can also easily island hop in the Galapagos on your own. The islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristóbal can be well combined in one trip. You can travel between the three islands by ferry or plane and stay in a nice hotel or apartment on the islands.

From the mainland of Ecuador, you can fly to Santa Cruz (Baltra) or San Cristóbal in 3 hours. It’s advisable to fly into one island and fly back from the other to avoid a bumpy ferry ride. Transportation between the islands can be easily arranged on-site. You can book various fun tours to other uninhabited islands, but you can also do many amazing things on the islands independently and often for free. In this blog, you’ll read more about the best DIY outings and tours in the Galapagos with kids.

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Galapagos with children - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is the most developed island of the Galapagos Islands. In the village of Puerto Ayora, you’ll find nice hotels, restaurants, and bars. A stroll along the pier is already quite an experience. Black marine iguanas and red rock crabs can be seen lounging on the rocks, while sea lions occupy the benches. In the water, you’ll spot small sharks, rays, and turtles. At the fish market a bit further along, hungry pelicans and sea lions wait for the fishermen to return.

The most beautiful beach on the island is Tortuga Bay. It takes about 45 minutes to walk there along a wooden boardwalk teeming with lava lizards and giant cacti. The beach is expansive, and the powdery soft sand crunches beneath your feet. You’ll find marine iguanas lounging on the shore, and it’s fantastic for snorkeling in the various tidal pools that form. Here, you can also snorkel alongside the marine iguanas.

On Santa Cruz, you’ll also find the famous Galapagos giant tortoise. You might encounter them right by the roadside, but you can also visit them at the El Chato Tortoise Reserve. This nature reserve allows you to observe the giant tortoises up close as they roam freely across the land. A guide can provide you with all the information about these magnificent creatures.

At the Darwin Research Center, you can learn more about Charles Darwin, who laid the groundwork for his theory of evolution in the Galapagos. Be sure to stop by Playa de Estacion along the way. The black rocks are covered in marine iguanas and crabs, and with a bit of luck, you might spot blue-footed boobies there.

Galapagos with children - Isla Isabela

Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos and perhaps the most enjoyable. The village of Puerto Villamil is surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and has a relaxed, almost Caribbean atmosphere. While the kids play in the waves, you can enjoy a cocktail or a beer at one of the charming beach bars.

The best snorkeling spot on Isabela is Concha de la Perla. You walk along a boardwalk to a pier where you can swim with rays, sea iguanas, sea lions, and turtles. It’s completely free!

Another fun outing is a walk along the boardwalks behind the Iguana Crossing Hotel. You stroll past pink lakes with flamingos on your way to a giant tortoise center. Along the way, sea iguanas often block the path!

The most beautiful day trip in the Galapagos Islands is to Los Tuneles, unique lava formations both above and below the sea. Here, you can snorkel among white-tipped reef sharks and giant sea turtles. With a bit of luck, you might also spot the unique Galapagos penguin that resides here. However, the highlight of the tour is undoubtedly the blue-footed boobies nesting in the area. Around their nests, they perform their courtship dance while you observe up close. It feels like you’re in a nature documentary!

Are your kids crazy about waves? Then rent a bodyboard or take a surf lesson. This guarantees an afternoon of fun. And how cool is it to learn surfing on the Galapagos Islands?

Galapagos with children - Isla San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal is the sea lion island. At the beach near the village of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, you’ll find a large colony of sea lions. They even lie in the village playground. From San Cristóbal, you can take some fun tours, such as to Kicker Rock where you can snorkel with hammerhead sharks, but you can also easily explore on your own.

The best beach on the island is Playa Punta Carolina. You can walk there from the village in about 20-30 minutes. It’s a beautiful and quiet little beach that you share with the sea lions and marine iguanas. If you’re not careful, a sea lion might lie down on your towel or roll over a sandcastle you just built. With a bit of luck, you can also snorkel with the sea lions. They swim up to you curiously until their nose almost touches your diving mask. It doesn’t get much better than that!

On the way to Playa Punta Carolina, you’ll pass the Interpretation Center, a small museum about the Galapagos Islands that’s definitely worth a stop. Here, you’ll learn more about the unique nature of the islands and see beautiful examples of evolution. The museum also features a replica of an old “post office” that stood on one of the islands for many years. Sailors who were at sea for long periods would post their letters here in the hopes that someone would take them back to their home country. You can even post a letter yourself, hoping it will eventually be delivered to your home. Be sure to stop by The Pier on your way back, one of the island’s most charming bars. Enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset and the playful sea lions.

About Karen

I’m Karen, and I live in lovely Brabant with my husband, Erwin, and our three children: Imke (11), Nils (9), and Elin (6).

We prefer to invest in memories rather than in things and love showing our children how beautiful the world is. In 2022, we realized a long-held dream: a world trip as a family. We started in the Galapagos Islands and then continued through Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil before crossing over to Africa. There, we traveled through Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, ultimately finishing on the tropical beaches of Mauritius.

Once back in the Netherlands, the urge to travel continues, and we are already making plans for new adventures. We enjoy connecting with other travel-loving people and families and inspiring others through our Instagram account “Werelddoorkinderogen” to show that you can still have amazing journeys with children!

Follow Karen on Instagram: @werelddoorkinderogen