The Galápagos Islands are part of Ecuador, so Spanish is the everyday language ashore — but you’ll barely need it. On the cruise ships and yachts that explore the archipelago, English is the working language, and a world of other languages can be arranged too.
In the island towns of Puerto Ayora and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Spanish is what you’ll hear, just as on the Ecuadorian mainland. But aboard nearly every Galápagos vessel the official language is English, and most ships regularly carry naturalist guides who speak other languages — French, German, Spanish and more can usually be arranged when you book. Every one of our guides is English-speaking.
For more on the language of mainland Ecuador, including its Indigenous Kichwa, see our Languages of Ecuador guide.
You won’t need much, but a few words of Spanish are always appreciated on shore:
Ready to set sail among the wildlife? Browse our Galápagos tours — with expert English-speaking naturalist guides aboard.
