Galápagos Giant Tortoise
Chelonoidis spp.
- Where
- 10 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
- When
- Year round, more between Jun and Dec
JFMAMJJASOND
On 85 of 97 routes · 2063 departures in season
See these departures →The Galápagos Cruise · Wildlife
Galápagos Reptiles: 6 Species and Where to See Them
6
species recorded
5
found only here
12
islands
US$2,120
per guest, double occupancy
Six species are recorded across the 12 islands our ships call at: the giant tortoise, two land iguanas, the marine iguana, the Pacific green sea turtle and the endemic rice rat. Between them they are most of what people picture before they arrive.
Reptiles are the easiest wildlife here to plan around, because almost none of it is seasonal. The giant tortoises are in the Santa Cruz highlands all year and easiest to reach from January to May, when the pastures are wet. Marine iguanas hold the shoreline on every island, and on Española they turn red and green in the mating season. Green sea turtles nest between December and June. Santa Fé has a land iguana that lives nowhere else, and South Plaza the only known hybrids of land and marine iguana. The map below shows which island holds what.
Where they are
Tap an island to filter the species below. The number is how many species are recorded there.
2 of 2 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month
Pacific Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas agassizii
- Where
- on most islands
- When
- Year round, more between Jan and Jun
JFMAMJJASOND
On 85 of 97 routes · 1995 departures in season
See these departures →Select a departure that actually reaches it
997 of the 2107 upcoming departures put you where the Galápagos Giant Tortoise is, at the time it is there.
997
- You see it. The ship is at the site while the species is recorded there.
- Right island, wrong month. The route calls there outside the months on record.
- Never gets there. The route does not call at any of its sites.
24/09/2026US$4,140
Alya · 5-Day Northern & Western: Bartolome's Endemic Plant
Bartolomé Summit, day 3
25/09/2026US$3,320
Treasure · 5-Day Northern & Western: Punta Pitt's Triple Boobies
Bartolomé Summit, day 2
26/09/2026US$7,992
ELITE · 8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds
Bartolomé Summit, day 6
26/09/2026US$2,120
Galaxy Orion · 5-Day Western & Southern: San Cristobal's Highlands
Bartolomé Summit, day 2
28/09/2026US$8,300
Solaris · Solaris: Route BC
Bartolomé Summit, day 8
28/09/2026US$14,095
Solaris · Solaris: Route BCA
Bartolomé Summit, day 8
29/09/2026US$14,095
Treasure · Treasure: Route BCA
Bartolomé Summit, day 12
30/09/2026US$7,140
Galaxy Stella · 8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access
Bartolomé Summit, day 6
01/10/2026US$6,035
Galaxy Sirius · 6-Day Western & Northern: Rabida's Red Sand Beach
Bartolomé Summit, day 4
01/10/2026US$13,490
Tribute · Tribute: Route CA
Bartolomé Summit, day 5
01/10/2026US$18,000
Tribute · Tribute: Route CAB
Bartolomé Summit, day 5
02/10/2026US$3,320
Solaris · 5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks
Bartolomé Summit, day 4
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What's included
✓All meals on board
✓Two certified national park naturalist guides
✓All excursions and landings listed in the itinerary
✓Snorkelling gear and wetsuit
✓Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards on board
✓Coffee, tea and water at any time
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María Fernanda Ortiz
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María Fernanda Ortiz
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997 departures