SELECT REGION

CURRENT LOCAL WEATHER

Provided by The Weather Channel

The Galapagos Penguin on Tour

The Galapagos Islands are home to the only penguin species that lives in tropical conditions, the endemic Galapagos penguin. If you wish to see penguins during your Galapagos tours, you won’t need to time your visit according to migratory schedules. You’ll see penguins whenever you visit the Galapagos Islands since they live here year-round. If you travel to the Galapagos Islands before and during breeding season from May to January, you’ll see penguins in larger numbers than after parenting activities end. After the chicks leave the nest, the parents spend more time in deeper waters.

Return to Previous Page

The Galapagos Penguin on Tour

To minimize wildlife disturbance, the Galapagos National Park Service limits tourist travel in the islands to designated visitor sites. Therefore, if observing penguins is high on your Galapagos wildlife wish list, it is wise to study itinerary options to make sure you will be visiting the specific areas where the species tends to congregate.

In Sullivan Bay, visitors on Galapagos cruises may see the penguins on land or water. From small boats, the species may be seen feeding at close range. Some travelers on Galapagos tours will bring home the memory of swimming with Galapagos penguins while snorkeling in the shallow waters off Pinnacle Rock and elsewhere.

Some Galapagos cruise itineraries include all three locations while others visit the right islands but not the specific area where penguins gather. As you will see by examining our many Galapagos cruises, some vessels specify which areas of each island are visited and others don’t. Discussing the subject with our staff will ensure that your route and mode of travel includes the best opportunities to witness this fascinating species in the greatest numbers. To observe other species of penguins, you may wish to consider travel to Argentina and Chile or Antarctica tours. See our articles about penguins in these locations for more details.

SOUTHERN EXPLORATIONS
IS A PROUD
MEMBER / SPONSOR / AWARDEE OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS