I arrived in the Galapagos Islands exactly a year ago today. Here’s a collection of my favorite pictures from my three months living on Isla Isabela and exploring the other islands of the archipelago.
A galapagos sea lion rests on a dock on Isla Floreana.
A bright yellow flower of the opuntia cactus, a favorite of land iguanas.
Two white tip reef sharks swim through the water at El Corona de Diablo in the Galapagos islands.
The sun setting over Volcan Cerro Azul in the Galapagos islands.
A colony of jasminocerous cacti on Isla Isabela in the Galapagos Islands.
A blue footed booby stares down at me, feet the same color as the sky.
Looking into the caldera of the Sierra Negra Volcano in the Galapagos Islands
Fish schooling off the coast of Isla Isabela.
A fluffy juvenile frigate bird peeks out of its nest on Seymore Norte.
Reflection of a black-necked stilt in a lagoon on Isla Isabela
A beautiful afternoon on the beaches of Puerto Villamil on Isla Isabela.
Rappelling down a volcanic cave in Isla Isabela.
A colorful marine iguana on Isla Floreana.
An Isabeleño fisherman’s boat.
A flightless cormorant dries it wings on the western coast of Isla Isabela.
Beautiful sunset from the beach in Puerto Villamil.
The volcanoes of Isla Floreana.
Daphne major and minor.
The black sand beach of Isla Floreana.
Spotted eagle rays glide through the water off the coast of Isla Isabela.
This playful sea lion darts away in a flurry of flips and spins.
Pinnacle rock on Bartolome.
Rainy day frigatebirds.
This sea turtle almost ran into me he was so close!
Sea turtles everywhere!
A frigatebird ventures close to a fishing boat looking for a snack.
A pelican coming in for the landing.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
A marine iguana swimming through the water.
An orca breaching off of the western coast of Isla Isabela. Easily one of the most breathtaking moments of the trip.
An orca with Volcan Cerro Azul in the background.
The most famous creature of the archipelago, the Galapagos tortoise.
A Galapagos finch hops close to check out my camera.
Snuggly sea lions on a dock in Puerto Villamil.
The highlands of Santa Cruz are filled with beautiful trees like this one.
A colorful Sally Lightfoot crab hides from my camera.
A playful sea lion splashes the water in front of snorkelers off the coast of Isla Santa Cruz. He did this again and again.
Saying goodbye.
Wingwhirrs 
Awesome pictures! What a beautiful place the Galapagos is!
Seriously great photos. Would love to hear more recommendations. I hope to be there in the fall this year. Anything you could live without or any recommendations for do not misses?
Thank you! If you’re island hopping on your own and not doing a cruise I highly recommend Academy Bay and Las Grietas on Isla Santa Cruz and Concha de Perla in Isla Isabela. All of these are cheap (or free) and give an amazing chance to see some wildlife and beautiful scenery. My biggest splurge trip was to Punta Moreno (on Isla Isabela) to see the flightless cormorants. We saw a breaching orca on the way and there were plenty of cormorants, turtles and sea lions to snorkel with. Another splurge would be to make it out to Isla Floreana. Of all the populated islands, it is the least inhabited an least built up. It was by far my favorite – black sand beaches, amazing snorkeling and bio-luminescent swimming at night. Over the next few weeks I plan on posting more about my time there!
Really great tips! Thank you so very much. I will certainly look in to all of those ideas and make a note for our planning. I really appreciate your taking the time!
Not a problem! I could talk (type?) about the Galapagos for hours 🙂