How to take a walk on the wild side in the Galapagos

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

The Galapagos are both a marine wildlife lover's dream as well as a photography, outdoor and nature paradise – one that offers snorkeling in beautiful calm bays, the ocean or even cenotes (natural underground sinkholes full of water).

Here you can swim with the whale sharks, giant tortoises or marine iguanas; go for a hike through eerie lava formations or along wild and dramatic beaches and coastline; laze on sandy beaches with the sea lions or take a cruise out to some of the outlying islands that don't have accommodations or see many visitors.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Blue-footed booby showing off his fabulous feet

The vast array of wildlife here is unlike anywhere else. You have large numbers of species endemic only to the Galapagos, and as there have been almost no natural predators on the islands, the wildlife is incredibly tame and unperturbed by human visitation.

High on the list are the blue-footed boobies, so named for the bright blue feet which the males proudly display in a funny dance reminiscent of a Monty Python silly walk, when they attempt to seduce their female counterparts. You can see them along with freshly hatched chicks during breeding season on North Seymour Island, as well as spots on Isabela and Santa Cruz. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Colorful Sally Lightfoot crab, Isla Santa Cruz

Marine life abounds in the Galapagos. You'll see Sally Lightfoot crabs (purportedly named after a Caribbean dancer) on pretty much every block and coastal path. They eat the dead skin off of marine iguanas and are known as the janitors of the food chain here, due to their scavenging tendencies and willingness to devour just about anything. Their brightly colored shells make for photo magnets set against the black volcanic rock they tend to frequent. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Cruise ships in San Cristobal Bay

You can take an all-inclusive cruise to the Galapagos, where you'll get personalized treatment and even have professional naturalists and guides with you throughout the day to get the most out of your visit. Going on a cruise will also get you to some of the more outlying islands, which don't see so many visitors. There are three main islands (Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal) that have land-based accommodation, so for the outlying islands, one has to live-aboard.

Sports & Outdoors: These are the best cruises for adventurous excursions

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

An island of one's own: cycling on Isla Santa Cruz

Alternatively, you can base yourself on land, save some cash by doing the land-based tours on your own without a schedule, still have some beach time, and then choose your own day tours by boat to some of the closer islands. However, you do risk not getting a spot if the more popular tours (like to North Seymour) are sold out. At any rate, there are miles of empty beaches to cycle alongside and the paths for hiking. The wildlife encounters will be epic no matter how you do it.

Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Touring

Marine wonderland

Metropolitan Touring will take you out to the most pristine bays to snorkel and dive with sea lions, tortoises and other abundant marine life. While some parts of the Galapagos can be cold and blustery depending on the season (the Galapagos have a wildly unique climate that is both tropical and semi-arid), you will still find white sand beaches and wonderful turquoise water reminiscent of the Caribbean. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Tortoise crossing, Santa Cruz Island

Giant Galapagos tortoises rule the roost and are the top draw on most visitors' must-see wildlife lists. El Chato, a private reserve set on 12 hectares in the interior of Santa Cruz Island, is open to the public, and it's where you can come face-to-face with the giant creatures in their natural habitat. Even better, the reserve can be reached by bicycle if you don't want to visit on a tour. Most tour companies also include El Chato as part of any itinerary. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Tortoises are kings of the jungle in the Galapagos

The biggest Galapagos tortoises can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (although 400-500 is more the norm) and often live upwards of 100 years. There are a dozen surviving different species, spread out across ten islands in the archipelago. The tortoises interact well with visitors and are quite comfortable with human presence, as especially in the island reserves, they don't have any predators to fear.

You'll even sometimes see one or two of Darwin's famed finch species riding on the back of a tortoise's shell. The small birds have an interesting mutual relationship with the tortoises, as they clean ticks and parasites off their skin, all in exchange for an easy free meal.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Pelican surprise!

Wildlife runs the show in the Galapagos. You'll find sea lions sitting at the feet of fish vendors in the market, barking like satisfied dogs when they are dropped the chopped off bits that aren't sold. Pelicans, marine iguanas and just about every other species seem to congregate together and not bicker in the least. And on the more touristed islands (namely the three with accommodations), you'll even see sea lions sleeping on bar stools during happy hour! 

Photo courtesy of Metropolitan Touring

Social distancing with sea lions

Whichever way you choose to get here and go, you'll take home a treasure chest of memories, an even bigger collection of photos and have a chance to experience wildlife up-close.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

It's only you and the iguanas: Tortuga Bay

There are endless possibilities for visiting the Galapagos. Head out on an adventure with Yacht La Pinta or Santa Cruz II, expedition vessels that have both received Safe Travel Stamps from the WTCC (World Travel and Tourism Council). Or opt for land-based experiences, setting up home base at the Finch Bay, a secluded eco-hotel set right next to the beach on Santa Cruz Island.

Whichever way you do it, one thing is for sure, there's plenty of solitude, social distancing and rejuvenation to be had, for just you, your loved ones and maybe a few marine iguanas or sea lions, too.