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Wildlife bingoWhereTours Updated Nov 6, 2026

Where to see penguins in the Galápagos

The only penguin that lives and breeds north of the equator. Most of them live on Fernandina and western Isabela, far from the towns.

  • luckyodds of seeing one
  • May–Octbest months
  • 3places to see it
  • EndangeredIUCN status
Galápagos penguin on lava rock
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 3.0

Short answer: From land, take a Bartolomé day tour from Santa Cruz, where a small colony lives in a cave behind Pinnacle Rock, or a Tintoreras or Los Túneles boat trip from Puerto Villamil on Isabela. About 95% of the penguins live on Fernandina and western Isabela, so a cruise past the Mariela islets or Tagus Cove gives the best odds. May to October is the best window. Even then a sighting is luck, not a given.

Galápagos penguins are endemic and listed as Endangered. The population is small: estimates run from about 1,200 to 4,700 birds. They breed when cool upwelling water arrives, which can happen in any month.

When to see penguins

  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: May–Oct. Odds of seeing one: lucky.

  • May, SepGalápagos penguins: active fishing (May), courtship peak (September)

Where to see penguins

Day trip

Bartolomé (small colony in cave behind Pinnacle Rock)

Day tour from Santa Cruz.

Bartolomé · from Santa Cruz

Cruise

Mariela Islets / Tagus Cove dinghy ride

Isabela · Isabela island guide

Day trip

Tintoreras and Los Túneles

Day boat from Puerto Villamil.

Isabela · Isabela 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
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Which tour goes there

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Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. Many multi-day packages start in Quito, so check what is included. 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 factIt pants like a dog to cool off, and nests in lava tubes because sun-heated lava can get hot enough to boil an egg.
  • SizeAbout 48 to 50 cm tall and 2 to 4 kg: the second-smallest penguin species.
  • Scientific nameSpheniscus mendiculus, 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 penguins in the Galápagos?

Bartolomé on a day tour from Santa Cruz, Tintoreras and Los Túneles on boat trips from Puerto Villamil, and the Mariela islets and Tagus Cove on western Isabela cruises.

What is the best month to see Galápagos penguins?

May to October. Penguins are very active at Bartolomé in May and courtship peaks in September, but they breed whenever the water cools, which can be any month.

Are Galápagos penguins rare?

Yes. They are listed as Endangered, and about 95% live on Fernandina and western Isabela, so on a land-based trip seeing one is a matter of luck.

Also on the card

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

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

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