Know Before You Go: Galapagos Tours

Giant tortoises are some of the most iconic animals in the Galapagos -- and some of the most threatened. Expedition Leader and marine ecologist Luis Vinueza has spent nearly 30 years studying, working and guiding in the Enchanted Isles. He shares his knowledge of these ancient creatures, how they arrived on the islands, their evolution and the key role they play in the area’s ecosystems. He also addresses the threats giant tortoises face and the conservation efforts underway to protect and restore their populations—and how sustainable travel can help!

The Galapagos Islands are a photographer’s paradise, home to some of the world’s most approachable and unique wildlife. Photo Expedition Leader Fernando Romo Sirvent shares his expert tips for capturing wall-worthy images during your adventure in the Enchanted Isles. Whether you’re photographing blue-footed boobies in flight, sea lions coursing through the currents, marine iguanas sunning on black lava rocks, or giant tortoises roaming the highlands, Fernando covers everything from recommended gear to camera settings and field techniques.

From blue-footed boobies to penguins and petrels, the Galapagos Islands offer travelers an abundance of birding opportunities. Avian biologist and Expedition Leader Jonathan Guillen details our eastern itinerary through the Enchanted Isles aboard our 115-foot motorized catamaran, the Natural Habitat Petrel. He also introduces some of the seabirds we encounter, including the Galapagos penguin, waved albatross, frigatebird, and Nazca, blue-footed and red-footed boobies, along with the bird for which our ship was named: the fleet-winged petrel!

The Galapagos Islands are brimming with fascinating wildlife, but we admit we have a soft spot for the Enchanted Isles' most common -- and playful -- marine mammals: sea lions. Learn all about the biology of these pinnipeds -- an order that includes fin- or flipper-footed marine mammals such as seals and walruses -- and what the differences are between curious Galapagos sea lions and shyer Galapagos fur seals (which are, despite their name, also sea lions!). And discover how you can swim, snorkel and kayak with sea lions on our Galapagos adventures.

Darwin devised his theory of evolution while witnessing differences among finches isolated between islands in the Galapagos in 1835—and it's still occurring! Learn how scientists discovered a brand-new finch species that evolved in 2017.

For a wildlife lover, there may be no nature destination on the planet as alluring as the Galapagos Islands, where unique animals show no fear of humans. Enjoy a firsthand report from a long-time Galapagos guide.

Back from the brink! Fifteen giant tortoises have been released to their native Española in the Galapagos after nearly disappearing 50 years ago. Hear the riveting story of their conservation!

Join a Galapagos oceanographer to learn about a fascinating process: how contrasting currents come together to mix flora and fauna, giving rise to species found nowhere else.

Court Whelan showcases one of the world’s best destinations for wildlife photographers: the Galapagos is home to intriguing species found nowhere else, with no fear of humans! It's a naturalist's—and a photographer's—paradise.

Islands contain some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth—and they are among its most vulnerable ecosystems. Find out what's happening in the Galapagos and elsewhere to prevent extinctions by rooting out dangerous invaders.

Galapagos Expedition Leader Josy and Island Restoration Specialist Paula take us to Floreana for a frontline look at how conservation biologists tackle the elimination of invaders in order to help native species prevail.

Created in 1998, the Galapagos Marine Reserve has had a dramatic impact on conserving migratory marine life in this richly biodiverse archipelago. But two decades later, species are struggling. Learn what's at stake as conservationists assess the reserve's future.

Join a Nat Hab Expedition Leader and WWF's VP of Ocean Conservation on a deep dive into the marine ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands.

Court Whelan introduces you to the entrancing wildlife photo opportunities that abound in the Galapagos Islands, where a cast of unique creatures from giant tortoises to blue-footed boobies displays no fear of humans.

Galapagos giant tortoises migrate?? And more curiously, why? Just recently, scientists have learned these massive reptiles move seasonally, though Charles Darwin noted it in 1835. Hear from a tortoise researcher about these fascinating findings!

Ainoa Nieto, a wildlife veterinarian and lab manager at the Darwin Research Station, researches giant tortoise health and conservation—hear about her work in Galapagos and its implications for the wellbeing of the entire ecosystem.

When you take an accomplished African photographer to a far-away wildlife wonderland, you get a fresh collection of amazing photos—get the full scoop on how Richard de Gouveia achieved his favorite images.

The Galapagos Islands are renowned for their prolific birdlife, from Darwin’s famous finches to pelagic penguins and petrels. Join Expedition Leader Luis Vinueza as he introduces us to some of the seabirds of the Galapagos, including blue-footed and Nazca boobies, waved albatrosses, Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants. Learn about the adaptations that allow them to thrive in this unique environment, their mating and nesting habits, and how they’re threatened by climate change.

The swift-flying petrel is one of a handful of seabirds endemic to the Galapagos Islands. They’re so iconic, in fact, that one of the ships we charter for our Galapagos adventures is named Petrel! Unfortunately, petrel populations are in decline across the Galapagos, primarily due to invasive species that destroy their nesting habitats or prey on petrels themselves. Galapagos Expedition Leader Jonathan Guillen introduces us to the petrel and explains the threats they face and what’s being done to protect them.

If it's variety you want to photograph in a nature travel destination, the Galapagos delivers! From high-flying seabirds to slow-moving tortoises to swiftly swimming sea lions, the Enchanted Isles offer opportunities for all kinds of wildlife photography. Expedition Leader and pro photographer Court Whelan shares his advice for photographing the unique creatures of the Galapagos. Learn what camera gear to pack to shoot both terrestrial and underwater wonders, find out how to capture the perfect photo of a Galapagos sunset, and discover the best settings for macro images of minute flora and fauna.

Our guides are experts on the geographic regions where they live and work—but they love to explore new places as much as our travelers do! Tag along as Southern Africa Expedition Leader Lorraine Doyle recounts her recent adventure to the Galapagos Islands, as a traveler this time, where she encountered endangered giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas. Learn about ongoing conservation efforts to protect these creatures and the fragile ecosystems they inhabit, and find out how you can experience the Galapagos for yourself!

It was less than 50 years ago that the first deep-sea hydrothermal vents were discovered by the submersible Alvin near the Galapagos Islands. Join Expedition Leader Melissa Silva as she delves into the mysterious world of these geothermally heated water plumes and the creatures that live in them, from giant clams and tube worms to scaly-foot gastropods, and discover how life can thrive in this extreme environment far from sunlight.

Webinar host Rob Mess recently explored the Enchanted Isles on Nat Hab’s Galapagos Discovery adventure. Along with hiking, snorkeling, kayaking and communing with wildlife, another highlight for Rob was getting to know naturalist guide Luis Vinueza. Now, Rob and Luis reunite to kick off our new series of live interviews with Expedition Leaders: A Guide’s Life! Learn about Luis’s background, from living in a tent for seven months observing seabirds to researching marine iguanas for his Ph.D., and hear some of his favorite stories from guiding Nat Hab travelers.