“This little clam here knows how to jam here, under the sea”

– Sebastion in The Little Mermaid

I was pleasantly surprised by how many cheap and affordable things you can do in the Galapagos.  After everything I heard from other traveler’s I expected a real budget breaker.  My previous post, 10 Ways to Have a Blast in The Galapagos ~ On A Budget is all about ways to have an amazing time here, without spending a fortune.  Check it out, if you haven’t yet!

However, I must add that if you don’t take a chance to explore “Galapagos Under the Sea” you will be missing perhaps the most important part.  So I think this warrants another post.

Snorkeling and diving opportunities are where the Galapagos can start getting pretty pricey.  And this is where I recommend saving your pennies for,  Because the underwater adventures are a real treat. Snorkle tours range from $50-150 per person for a day trip and lunch.

I went snorkeling 4 times in the Galapagos.  Each place is unique, and you should choose under water tours based on what interests you most.

Get ready to swim with sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, giant schools of fish, starfish, and on and on.

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Pinzon

• This tour begins at: Santa Cruz Island
• What to expect:
  • Visit Islands: Pinzon and Daphne
  • Tour includes time on a secluded beach and lunch
  • You can expect to swim with massive schools of fish (some of the most impressive available to snorkelers and divers in the Galapagos)
  • Swim with whitetip sharks, up close and personal.
  • Sea turtles are a definite
  • Manta Rays, and sea lions are also likely visitors while you are in the water
• Highlights: Swimming with sharks, seeing discovery-channel-worthy schools of fishies!

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Santa Fey

• This tour begins at: Santa Cruz Island
• What to expect:
  • Tour includes time on a secluded beach and lunch
  • The main reason to choose this tour is for the opportunity to swim with sea lions.  This was one of my most memorable experiences in my travels.  I am now a proud sea lion lover.
  • Sea turtles and fishies are a definite
  • Manta Rays are also likely visitors while you are in the water
• Highlight: Swimming with sea lions!

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Tintoreras

• This tour begins at: Isabella Island
• Interesting because: Islands composed entirely of volcanic rock that create excellent shelter and resources for wildlife.
• What to expect:
  • Walk around Tintoreras
  • Admire the Iguanas, crabs, penguins, sea lions, and sharks that take shelter in and around the island
  • Later, the boat takes you to another location to swim with sea turtles, fish and starfish.
• Highlights: 
  • Penguins (one of the only places you can see the Galapagos penguins)
  • Iguanas
  • See where sharks dwell (you do not actually swim with the sharks but can see them when walking around the island)!
• Note: This was the most physically challenging place I snorkeled because of big waves in open waters.

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Tuneles

• This tour begins at: Isabella Island
• Interesting because: Los Tuneles (Translation: The Tunnels) are a series of arches and tunnels under water that were carved out millennia ago by strong volcanic activity.
• What to Expect:
  • First, you walk around Los Tuneles from above ground.  Here is one of the best places to find the famous Blue Footed Boobies.  These birds have very blue feet and beaks!
  • After exploring Los Tuneles above ground, dive in to explore the land formations from below the sea, where they are even more interesting.
• Highlights:
  • Swim with whitetip sharks.
  • See the Blue Footed Boobies
  • Search for seahorses (one of the more ideal places to find them).
  • Swim through the tunnels.
  • Fish and sea turtles are a given.

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Video

And of course I have a video.

I apologize for the horrible image quality. Also, I know it’s a little lengthy, just shy of 11 minutes…. BUT the moment’s captured and compiled here are truly spectacular.  I had a blast creating this video from start to finish.