Everything You Need to Know About the Galápagos Marine Reserve

Discover the wonders of the Galápagos Marine Reserve and the exotic animals that call it home, including marine iguanas and giant manta rays.

Chris Wallace | Updated: September 21, 2026 | Time to read: 11 min

One of the world’s great hotspots of biodiversity, the Galápagos Islands are famous for their exotic wildlife. This archipelago off the coast of Ecuador is home to over nine thousand species of animals, 3,000 of which are marine species. The ecosystem they inhabit is protected as the Galápagos Marine Reserve, which was established in 1998 as an addition to Galápagos National Park.

The reserve covers 76,000 square miles (198,000 sq km) of open ocean and is filled with an underwater menagerie of exotic animals. Visitors can experience this wildlife up close on scuba and snorkeling tours, which are some of the most popular Galápagos activities. That’s because a dip in the water here puts you near everything from sea turtles and manta rays to sea lions and migrating whales. Below you’ll find even more info on the ecosystem and its inhabitants to ensure you make the most of your time in the Galápagos.

Where Is the Galápagos Marine Reserve?

The Galápagos Marine Reserve surrounds the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 600 miles (1,000 km) off the coast of Ecuador. It protects the waters extending out from the archipelago, an area larger than many countries, where the cold Humboldt Current meets warm tropical seas.

That collision of currents is what makes the reserve so unusual. Nutrient-rich water rising from the deep feeds everything from plankton to the dense schools of fish that pull in sharks, rays, and sea lions. The same isolation that shaped the islands’ famous land animals shaped their marine life, producing species you won’t find anywhere else on Earth. Sitting at the meeting point of three major ocean currents also places the reserve along a migratory highway, which is part of why its boundaries matter far beyond the islands themselves.

Conservation in the Galápagos Marine Reserve

Conservation is of paramount importance to maintain the health and biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands. This is an open-ended initiative, and efforts are ongoing. For example, in 2022, the Ecuadorian president, Guillermo Lasso, signed the decree creating the new Reserva de la Hermandad, which expanded the total area of the reserve from 51,351 square miles (133,000 square km) to its current 76,000 square miles (198,000 sq km).

The area expanded to protect a vast migratory corridor between the Galápagos Islands and:

• Cocos Island (Costa Rica)
• Coiba (Panama)
• And Malpelo (Colombia)

This corridor is a haven for over 2,900 migratory species, including sharks, whales, rays, and sea turtles. The expansion ensures protection of these species, as well as hopes of mitigating the impacts of climate change through a consistent and greater capture of CO2. 

What Are the Rules for Visiting the Galápagos Marine Reserve?

Every visitor pays a national park entrance fee of USD 200 per adult, explores protected sites with a certified naturalist guide, and follows strict no-take rules that prohibit fishing, collecting, or removing anything from the water. These measures are what keep the reserve’s wildlife genuinely wild.

The fee, paid in cash on arrival at the airports on Baltra or San Cristóbal, rose to its current level in August 2024, the first increase in more than two decades. It funds park management, ranger patrols, and the marine work that defends the reserve from illegal fishing.

You will also need a Transit Control Card, a simple registration document that records who enters and leaves the islands.

Group sizes at visitor sites are capped, drones are restricted, and your guide will brief you on keeping a respectful distance from animals. None of this slows the experience down. It is exactly what lets a sea lion nap beside you on the sand without a second thought, and it keeps the reserve intact for the responsible travelers who arrive after you.

Read our guide, “Galápagos Islands Vacation: What to Know Before You Go,” for more information about the national park entry requirements.

Species Found in The Galápagos Marine Reserve

Fun fact: The Galápagos Marine Reserve is the second-largest such reserve in the world. This is a primary reason why it’s one of the best Scuba diving destinations anywhere. That said, taking a dive tour in the Galápagos usually requires advanced certification and 50-100+ logged dives. This is because of rougher waters around the archipelago resulting from cold ocean currents moving up from the Antarctic, like the Humboldt Current.

If you do decide to dive here, you’ll witness incredible marine animals. Many of these inspired the famous naturalist Charles Darwin to develop his Theory of Natural Selection. They include:

Marine iguanas

The Galápagos marine iguana is a species of iguana found only on the Enchanted Islands. Unique among modern lizards, they’re mainly found in colonies on rocky shores. Also, it’s the only reptile that can live both in water and on land. Though not so agile on land, marine iguanas are excellent swimmers, propelled through the water with their long, lateral tails as they feed on algae.

Sea turtles

One of the most frequent visitors to the Galapagos coast is the Green Sea Turtle. They return to the same beach every two or three years to lay their eggs. Consequently, tourists can observe this species while diving in the marine visitor sites of the archipelago.

Dolphins

You can spot various species of cetaceans (marine mammals) in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, including bottlenose, spinner, and common dolphins. Less common but still prevalent species include Risso’s, striped, and Fraser’s dolphins, as well as the occasional killer whale. These animals swim in groups called pods, feeding mainly on small fish and crustaceans.

Whales

In the Galápagos, humpbacks are the most common whales and are typically seen from June to October during breeding season. Bryde’s whales appear year-round, and (occasionally) sperm and pilot whales pass through. The best places to sight them include along the coasts of Isabela, Fernandina, Española islands, and the waters off Santiago and Floreana.

Whale sharks

Whale sharks hold the record as the world’s largest fish, as they can reach lengths of up to 60 feet (18 m). Visitors can witness this impressive sea creature in the depths around Darwin and Wolf Islands, in the north of the archipelago. Despite its enormous size, the whale shark is a docile fish that isn’t scared of nearby swimmers. Whale shark season typically lasts from June to November, with August and September being peak months.

Hammerhead sharks

This migratory species can typically be found hunting fish along reefs in the northern Galápagos Islands. You’re most likely to spot them when diving at the rock outcroppings of Darwin and Wolf Islands or Gordon Rocks near Isla Santa Cruz. Despite their imposing appearance, hammerhead sharks are shy creatures that typically avoid close contact with divers.

Manta rays

There are a whopping 15 species of manta rays that inhabit the Galápagos, including the prize: the giant oceanic manta. The wingspan of this animal can measure 15-23 feet (4.5-7 m), with an overall size of up to 29-30 feet (8.8-9 m). As for their weight, these are hefty creatures can weigh up to 5,000 pounds (2,267 kg)

None of the species is dangerous, with the exception of stingrays, which, in some beaches, rest under a layer of sand in shallow waters and could inflict a painful sting if stepped on.

Galápagos Penguins

Last but not least is the Galápagos penguin. Not only is this one of the smallest penguins in the world, but it’s the only species found north of the equator (as the Galápagos technically straddles the equator). This penguin nests entirely in the tropics, with some colonies living on the northern tip of Isabela Island. As with all penguin species, they are extremely agile underwater, reaching speeds of 21 mph (35 kmph) when hunting. 

It’s also worth noting that the Galápagos Marine Reserve is both a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the Underwater World according to the CEDAM International Oceanographic Organization.  So, if you’d like to discover the many treasures of this marine wonderland, contact us today!

Why Does the Galápagos Marine Reserve Matter?

The Galápagos Marine Reserve matters because it protects one of the last places on Earth where threatened species still gather in large numbers, and because the animals it shelters travel far beyond its edges. Protecting them means protecting an entire stretch of the eastern Pacific.

Take the scalloped hammerhead shark. The waters around Darwin and Wolf Islands hold one of the largest shark biomasses on the planet, yet this species was listed as critically endangered by the IUCN in 2019 after global populations fell by more than 80%.

Scientists with the Charles Darwin Foundation’s shark ecology program have tagged pregnant females here and followed one on a journey of roughly 3,700 miles (6,000 km) to give birth off the coast of Panama, crossing open water laced with industrial fishing lines along the way. This is why the reserve’s expansion into the Reserva de la Hermandad carried such weight, and why illegal fishing on its borders remains the central threat. When you snorkel or dive here, you are not only watching wildlife. You are helping fund the patrols and research that give these animals a future.

When Is the Best Time to Dive the Galápagos Marine Reserve?

The best time to dive the Galápagos Marine Reserve depends on what you want to see. From June to November, the cool, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current draws whale sharks and big schools of hammerheads to the northern islands. From December to May, warmer and calmer water means better visibility and gentler conditions for newer divers.

The cool, dry season, known locally as the garúa (misty drizzle), runs from June to December and is prime time for large pelagic animals. Whale shark season peaks in August and September, when these slow-moving giants cruise past Darwin and Wolf Islands. The trade-off is colder water, so a thicker wetsuit earns its place in your bag. The warm season from January to May brings clearer water, softer currents, and the chance to watch manta rays glide through the shallows, conditions many divers and snorkelers prefer. Whichever window you choose, the marine life rarely disappoints. For a fuller month-by-month picture, it helps to know the best time to travel to the Galápagos before you book.

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Chris Wallace

Content Writer

Chris Wallace has been a guidebook author and travel writer/editor since 2012. Based mostly out of South America, he’s also covered destinations in Mexico, Central America, Europe, and Asia. When not working, you can usually find him walking his dog near his home in the Colombian countryside. You can also find him on IG at @wallaceabroad.