Ramblers partner HX Hurtigruten Expeditions are well known for their incredible voyages to the Antarctic and Arctic, but they also take travelers for adventures in the Galápagos too. 

Here Galápagos local and HX guide Ramiro Tomolo tells us about some of the unique sights you will see if you go for a hike while visiting the islands. He says it’s the perfect destination for a walker to connect with nature. 

The Ramblers partnership with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions not only offers you discounts on expeditions, but every booking supports our work to improve paths and increase access to nature by breaking down barriers to walking in nature. 

 

1. Giant Tortoises 

These tortoises can be 180 years old, and they probably walk more than the average person! Their natural habitat is the highlands but since they are great walkers, they will come all the way down to the coast of the islands and then back. They certainly get their cardio in. 

I remember one time I was leading a group on a hike on the island of Isabela and suddenly one of the biggest tortoises I have ever seen walked out of the bushes. We immediately got our cameras out and started taking its picture. It walked on the path, looked at us, posed for our pictures and then decided to take a break in the middle of the path, blocking the only way out of the island. We had to wait a good 20 minutes until it decided to move again, only here you can see that. 

 

2. Frigate Birds 

Another encounter that you can only have while walking in the Galápagos is with some of the most curious and daring birds we have here, frigate birds. Frigates will fly for hours and hours looking to steal food from other birds. They are very curious and a lot of them, especially the young ones, will fly very low when we have people on the islands, almost descending to us to say hello and check us out! 

Once, I was on the island of North Seymour, frigate central! We were walking on the beach and quite a few frigates, young ones mostly, flew right above us and stayed, they were hovering on top of my group. It was amazing to see these birds flying so low, almost accompanying my group during their hike. In some cases we had to duck down as they were moving above our heads. I, jokingly, said to my group to be careful and hold on to their hats because frigates might try to steal them, they all laughed! A few minutes later, one flew right above my head, took my hat and flew away with it! I had to run following it until it decided to drop my hat so I could collect it. 

 

3. Galápagos Sea Lions 

When walking in Galápagos you can see some of the most amazing animals right beside you. Animals here have no fear of humans. One of my favorite animals to see while walking here has to be the Galápagos sea lions. Adults and babies are everywhere. A lot of the time, the babies will come close to the hikers to try to see if one of us is their parent. They always put on quite the show. 

I was on a hike with my group and as we walked back, a sea lion walked to us and laid right on the path, we all stopped to look at it, we took pictures and so on. As I was getting ready to leave with the group, the sea lion laid on its side and started giving birth right in front of us. Only when walking in Galápagos can you see animals behave in such a manner in front of us. We see animals trusting us to be present during some of their most intimate and vulnerable moments. 

 

4. Blue Footed Boobies 

Blue footed boobies are one of my favourite animals. They have such a unique look and are great at flying and fishing but quite clumsy on land. 

I was with my group on the island of Espanola. We were walking near a colony of blue footed boobies. As soon as the boobies saw us, some of them came close to us. I found it so funny that some of them looked at my feet, then they looked at their own feet and then looked at their friends, probably wondering why I did not have blue feet like them. They looked so puzzled, they were probably thinking I belong to another species of booby! 

 

5. Animals interacting in nature 

Often when walking in Galápagos, we see some of the most amazing interactions between animals in different parts of the food chain. When we walk, we see lizards running around, snakes slithering by and of course hawks always patrolling the area. Animals are extra cautious, especially when their predator is nearby. It is great to see them in their natural habitat being unafraid of us but at the same time cautious, because of the presence of their natural predator. 

I was leading a hike on the island of Fernandina. I spotted a lizard eating a grasshopper. We stopped and took pictures, then a snake came and caught the lizard, and we got to see how the snake swallowed the lizard. And, cherry on the cake, a hawk came down and took the snake in the air, probably to its nest to eat it. 

 

6. Incredible volcanic landscapes 

It’s not just amazing wildlife that you’ll see when walking in Galápagos, you'll also see some of the best and most breathtaking landscapes. Volcanoes in the background, new lava fields, fresh volcanic lava tubes.  When I am leading walks, I always ask my guests to use their senses. I encourage them to see, hear, feel. Galápagos is a great place to just be, to connect with nature.