Seal-ing the Deal in the Galápagos (but these are sea LIONS)!

WATCH: Veronica is treated to several minutes of frolicking with a Galapagos sea lion – UNDERWATER!

Snorkeling with a sea lion is the galapagos!

Of all of the fabulous animals in The Galapagos Islands, the one that made it hardest to obey the always-stay-six-feet-away-from-the-animals rule were the sea lions.

Sea lions, or lobos del mar (wolves of the sea) as they are called in Ecuador, have great personalities, are cute, cuddly looking and have no fear of humans (even underwater!).

A sea lion plays in a lagoon

Sometimes they seemed to be begging for a hug or a pat. But we also should point out that they have big sharp lion – or wolf-like – teeth. One look at those incisors and the six feet rule seems like a pretty good idea.

A sea lion pup takes a nap on the beach in the Galapagos Islands
A pup takes a nap on the beach.

Snorkeling with a sea lion is the galapagos!

So to avoid making contact we found ourselves stepping and swimming away from the more friendly of these adorable creatures.

As hard as it was to keep from reaching out and petting one, we tried to keep in mind that a finger might just stay in the Galapagos if we did.

Sea Lion in the Galapagos Islands

So many sea lions in the Galapagos!

David with his new sea lion friend
David with his new sea lion friend.

Sea lions have ear flaps, seals do not

Prior to our Galapagos adventure we were unclear on exactly what characteristics distinguish seals from sea lions.

Though there are differences with their flippers, the easiest way to tell the them apart is by checking out their ears. Sea lions have external ear flaps, seals simply have holes on the side of their heads.

In addition to the hundreds of sea lions we came across, we were treated to a brief encounter with a Galapagos fur seal – actually a misnamed type of a sea lion – while riding along the cliffs of Genovesa Island in a Zodiac.

See our full adventure The Galapagos!

Galapagos Fur Seal

This guy looked more like a walrus than a seal lion and, with all of that fur, it was not easy to make the ear-flap-or-no-ear-flap call. So we’ll have to forgive whoever misnamed them.

Galapagos Fur Seal

Lava lizard on a sea lion's back in The Galapagos!

One warm afternoon we noticed a unique relationship between lava lizards and sea lions. When sea lions nap on the beach, they attract flies.

Lava lizards love to dine on the insects, and the sea lions apparently find the lizards to be less annoying than the buzzing bugs.

Very soon we have discovered why – David was bitten by a fly on this very beach – and it HURTS (no lasting problems, but really gets one’s attention at the moment).

A sea lion hitched a ride on Yolita in the Galapagos
This sea lion decides to take a quick break on the swim platform on the back of our boat for the week, the Yolita II.

Several times we were enamored with sightings of sea lions sunning themselves on boats, including one that climbed aboard the back of ours, but our guide, Franklin, filled us in on why the fishermen of the region did not find this behavior nearly as cute as we did.Sea lion lounging on a boat in the Galapagos Islands

Many times, a whole herd will commandeer a vessel, and it is not rare for a boat to sink under their weight.

A sea lion suns himself on a boat in The Galapagos Islands

WATCH: Seal lions are so funny on land!

Snorkeling with a sea lion is the galapagos!

As lazy and cumbersome as sea lions seemed out of the water, once we donned our snorkels and fins we were able to see these guys in their element.

In the water they swim with ease, grace and agility.

The pups are like any children, they love to romp and play. Surprisingly even with us!

Several pups came face-to-face with us as if they were looking at their reflections in our masks. These brief frolics will go down as some of the greatest undersea moments in our lives.

WATCH: Mommy and baby sea lion find each other!

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Click here for our entire live-blog of our adventure in The
Galapagos

Delve deeper:
See the incredible work done at Giant Tortoise Breeding Center
Check out the landscape of The Galapagos
Cavort with Sea Lions!
The Birds of The Galapagos – wild!
The Underwater World of The Galapagos
People live in the Galapagos?
Our tips for visiting The Galapagos Islands – including what to pack

YOUR TURN: Are The Galapagos Islands on YOUR bucket list? Have we inspired you to go? 


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15 thoughts on “Seal-ing the Deal in the Galápagos (but these are sea LIONS)!”

  1. David & Veronica–Jim and I were on the river cruise from Paris to Prauge with you and are heading to the Galapagos on Jan. 17/14. Thanks for the preview. You do a great job of capturing the moments.

  2. Oh my gosh, this post makes me want a pet baby sea lion so bad! I’ve always found them to be one of the most adorable animals on earth. And what more incredible place to sea them in the wild than the Galapagos!

  3. I really, really want to go to the Galapagos, but your videos have convinced me I have to get over my snorkeling phobia before then. The closest I’ve gotten to sea lions was on a national park beach on Kangaroo Island, Australia.

    1. It’s not completely necessary to know how to snorkel to go – or enjoy the sea lions. There is so much going on above the water and on the boats. BUT it is pretty fantastic underwater. Start by practicing in a pool!

  4. They are just so cute! Must have been just amazing to be so close to so many of them in and out of the water. 🙂 Great videos!!

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