Our adventure began with an exhausting and long journey from Melbourne, Australia, to the Galapagos Islands. Flying via Los Angeles and Panama, we endured long flights, airport layovers, and the challenge of lugging 45kg of camera equipment each. The promise of unparalleled wildlife encounters and breathtaking landscapes, however, kept our spirits high. The Galapagos had been very high on my bucket list for a long time.
After our last layover in Guayaquil (a very sketchy city) our last flight was taking us directly to the islands. We arrived in San Cristóbal, greeted by the salty ocean breeze and the lively hum of a charming little port village. It was the perfect place to shake off our jet lag for a few days before embarking on the real adventure. Wandering through the streets, we admired the laid-back atmosphere, colourful buildings, and the colony of lazy sea lions basking along the waterfront. There was so much to see and do just in the town. On our day off arrival we took a short walk through the waterfront and managed to see a lot of wildlife right there. Sea lions were sleeping on bench seats, marine iguanas were sunbaking on the rocks. Blue-footed boobies dived from the sky catching bait fish in the harbour. We decided to go for a snorkel the next day and we walked to Playa Punta Carola. Snorkeling here was amazing and even though the visibility was not great, we were surrounded by huge green turtles and playful sea lion pups. We even got lucky and saw our first marine iguana in the water here as well!
After a much-needed rest, we boarded the Theory, our floating home for the journey ahead. Operated by Ecoventura (https://ecoventura.com/), this vessel was designed for exploration, sustainability, and comfort. The excitement was palpable as we set off, ready to immerse ourselves in the wonders of the Galapagos. Our expedition took us through the Southern and Central route, a breathtaking journey through some of the oldest islands of the archipelago. At Española, we were greeted by colonies of Waved Albatross with chicks, their graceful presence a true spectacle. As we ventured further, the rugged beauty of Floreana unfolded before us, its crystalline waters teeming with vibrant marine life. On one particularly memorable snorkeling excursion at Champion, we found ourselves immersed in an underwater world unlike any other. Eagle rays and turtles glided effortlessly beneath us. Playful sea lions darted through the water, their sleek bodies twisting and turning as they hunted with impressive agility.
The islands continued to surprise us with their incredible biodiversity. At Punta Pitt, we trekked across rocky terrain, marveling at the sight of all three species of boobies—blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca—perched on the cliffs. Each island had its own unique charm. At the Tortoise Reserve Center, we watched in awe as giant tortoises lumbered slowly through the grass, their ancient forms a reminder of the islands' deep evolutionary history. North Seymour presented a scene of bustling bird colonies, where frigate birds puffed out their brilliant red throat sacs in a mesmerising display of courtship.
Every day on this journey felt like stepping into a living documentary. Whether it was watching penguins dart through the water or sitting next to a bluefooted boobie, each moment was one to treasure.
But our adventure was far from over. The following week, we boarded the Galapagos Sky, a scuba diving liveaboard that would take us to the remote sites of Darwin and Wolf Islands. These northern outposts are renowned as some of the best diving spots in the world, and they did not disappoint. The surface was rough and wild around the islands, known for large swells and strong currents it can be renowned for being quite challenging to dive. Once we were beneath the roughness of the surface, we found ourselves on a rocky wall looking into the blue at a wall of schooling hammerhead sharks, their sleek, powerful forms moving gracefully through the blue. Most of our dives were spent sheltering at 20-30m on a rocky wall hiding from the strong currents. When the conditions allowed we would swim out towards the blue looking for whale sharks. Although we were outside of the peak season for whale sharks, we indeed got very lucky with 4 sightings of some of the biggest whale sharks I have ever seen. We were also fortunate enough to encounter bottlenose dolphins, their clicks filling our ears as they zoomed around us on our safety stop.
As if our journey hadn’t already delivered enough incredible experiences, we then made our way to Isabela Island for another unforgettable dive. The temperature shift was shocking—after basking in the 27°C waters of Darwin and Wolf, we plunged into a frigid 15°C. The visibility wasn't as pristine, but the colder waters held a secret that made it all worthwhile. On one dive, we were incredibly fortunate to encounter six mola (ocean sunfish). Their enormous and ridiculous bodies, almost prehistoric-looking, moved slowly through the water, mouths wide open as they got cleaned by symbiotic cleaner fish.
One of the dives I was most excited about on this trip was our Fernandina Island dive. Here, we spent an entire hour surrounded by marine iguanas as they fed underwater, scraping algae off the rocks with their specialized teeth. Watching these ancient reptiles glide effortlessly through the water, their claws gripping the seafloor as they munched away, was nothing short of spectacular. It was one of those moments where time seemed to stand still, a true privilege to witness firsthand.
Every dive was a thrilling adventure, filled with vibrant marine life and breathtaking encounters. The Galapagos had already gifted us with incredible memories above water, but experiencing its underwater world was something entirely different—wild, raw, and truly unforgettable.
The Galapagos is a truly unique and fragile ecosystem, and conservation efforts are critical to preserving its extraordinary biodiversity. Strict regulations help to protect the islands, limiting human impact and ensuring that wildlife thrives in its natural habitat. The Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station work tirelessly to combat threats like invasive species, climate change, and illegal fishing. Marine reserves surrounding the islands provide a sanctuary for the incredible creatures we were fortunate enough to witness. As visitors, we felt privileged to experience this extraordinary place, and it reinforced the importance of responsible travel—respecting wildlife, following park guidelines, and supporting conservation efforts. The Galapagos is a place like no other, and it must be protected so that future generations can continue to be inspired by its wild beauty.
Our whole experience in the Galapagos was so incredible, writing about it was an impossible task as we saw so much and had real once-in-a-lifetime encounters with some of the most unique species on the planet. Words cannot describe this trip, So i have put lots of photos in here to try and help explain visually. The landscapes were equally stunning and it really did feel otherworldly and alien at times. My favourite highlights were definitely the birdlife and the iguanas. One thing that was so special as well was that the wildlife has no fear of humans as no hunting has been happening there for a long time. Which means you really do get up-close experiences with the animals in their natural environment. Sometimes so close they land on the seat right next to you!
Thanks for reading and I hope you get the chance to visit this incredible place in the future! Definitely add it to you bucket list if you haven't already.
Brooke
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