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Wildlife bingoWhereTours Updated Nov 6, 2026

Where to see Darwin's finches in the Galápagos

About 18 species of small, plain birds that helped explain evolution. They hop around the Charles Darwin Station and, often, your breakfast table.

  • commonodds of seeing one
  • All yearbest months
  • 2places to see it
  • Mostly Least ConcernIUCN status
Medium ground finch, one of Darwin's finches
Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0

Short answer: Darwin's finches live in the arid zone and the highlands of every inhabited island, so you will see them on any trip, in every month. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the streets of Puerto Ayora are the easiest places; the Santa Cruz highlands and El Mirador are good too. A highlands tour from Puerto Ayora takes you into finch country.

There are about 18 species, nearly all found only in the Galápagos; the one exception is the Cocos finch on Cocos Island. Most are listed as Least Concern, but the mangrove finch of Fernandina and Isabela is Critically Endangered.

When to see Darwin's finches

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Best months: All year. Odds of seeing one: common.

Where to see Darwin's finches

Land-based

Charles Darwin Research Station and Puerto Ayora

Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz island guide

Land-based

Santa Cruz highlands and El Mirador

Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz island guide

EQUATOR · 0° Volcán Wolf≈ 1,670 mVolcán Wolf: highest point about 1,670 m in the GMRT elevation gridCerro Azul≈ 1,650 mCerro Azul: highest point about 1,650 m in the GMRT elevation gridSierra Negra≈ 1,110 mSierra Negra: highest point about 1,110 m in the GMRT elevation gridAlcedo≈ 1,130 mAlcedo: highest point about 1,130 m in the GMRT elevation gridVolcán Darwin≈ 1,370 mVolcán Darwin: highest point about 1,370 m in the GMRT elevation gridLa Cumbre≈ 1,440 mLa Cumbre (Fernandina): highest point about 1,440 m in the GMRT elevation gridSanta Cruz highlands≈ 820 mSanta Cruz highlands: highest point about 820 m in the GMRT elevation gridSan Cristóbal highlands≈ 680 mSan Cristóbal highlands: highest point about 680 m in the GMRT elevation gridSantiago≈ 890 mSantiago: highest point about 890 m in the GMRT elevation gridPinta≈ 610 mPinta: highest point about 610 m in the GMRT elevation grid ISABELAFERNANDINASANTIAGOSANTA CRUZSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANAESPAÑOLAPINTAMARCHENAGENOVESASANTA FEPINZÓNBALTRA North SeymourBartoloméSanta FeSouth PlazaPinzónKicker RockLos TúnelesTintorerasTortuga BaySierra NegraPunta SuárezEl ChatoLas GrietasDarwin Station Puerto AyoraPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPuerto VillamilPuerto Velasco Ibarra ✈GPSBaltra (GPS)✈SCYSan Cristóbal (SCY)✈IBBIsabela (IBB) Giant tortoisesPenguinsPenguinsBlue-footed boobiesFlamingosFlamingosSea lions in townMarine iguanasFlightless cormorantsWaved albatross (Apr–Dec)Red-footed boobiesTurtles & sharks (snorkel)White-tip sharks ↖ Darwin & Wolf: dive boats only 050 km N
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · tiles OpenFreeMap · depth GMRT · photos Wikimedia Commons, credited in each cardNot for navigation.

Which tour goes there

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Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Every tour on all islands, filtered by animal: day-tour finder.

Did you know?

  • Fun factA hybrid male reached Daphne Major in 1981. His descendants are larger, eat food the other finches cannot, and no longer interbreed with them.
  • Size10 to 20 cm and 8 to 38 g; the warbler finches are the smallest and the vegetarian finch the largest.
  • Scientific nameGeospiza, Camarhynchus, Certhidea, Platyspiza (about 18 species), found only in the Galápagos

On every visit: keep 2 metres from wildlife, cameras included, and visit park sites with a certified naturalist guide. The full list: visitor rules.

Questions people ask

Where can you see Darwin's finches?

On every inhabited island, in the arid zone and the highlands. The Charles Darwin Research Station and Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz are the easiest; the Santa Cruz highlands and El Mirador are good too.

How many species of Darwin's finches are there?

About 18, in the genera Geospiza, Camarhynchus, Certhidea and Platyspiza. Nearly all live only in the Galápagos.

How big are Darwin's finches?

10 to 20 cm and 8 to 38 g. The warbler finches are the smallest and the vegetarian finch the largest.

Also on the card

Print the wildlife bingo card · Best month for your trip · Plan your days

Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos Conservancy. More numbers:facts and figures.

Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.