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The Galápagos Cruise  ·  Wildlife

Galápagos Reptiles: 6 Species and Where to See Them

6
species recorded
5
found only here
12
islands
US$6,190
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.

1 of 1 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 · 1996 departures in season

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Select a departure that actually reaches it

296 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Pacific Green Sea Turtle is, at the time it is there.

296
  • 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.
30/09/2026US$7,140

Galaxy Stella  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access

Buccaneer Cove, day 5

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
08/10/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Buccaneer Cove, day 6

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
14/10/2026US$6,720

Galaxy Stella  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Mangle Point's Rare Access

Buccaneer Cove, day 5

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
22/10/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Buccaneer Cove, day 6

Stragglers7 spotsAsk about this date
19/11/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Buccaneer Cove, day 6

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
23/11/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Espumilla Beach, day 13

Possible1 spotAsk about this date
29/11/2026US$8,563

ENDEMIC  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti

Espumilla Beach, day 7

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
03/12/2026US$6,632

MONIQUE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Elizabeth Bay's Penguins

Espumilla Beach, day 6

Possible14 spotsAsk about this date
07/12/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Espumilla Beach, day 13

Possible3 spotsAsk about this date
08/12/2026US$6,690

GRAND OCEAN SPRAY  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Prince Philip's Boobies

Espumilla Beach, day 3

Possible5 spotsAsk about this date
13/12/2026US$9,990

ENDEMIC  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Tagus Cove's Sailor Graffiti

Espumilla Beach, day 7

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
15/12/2026US$6,190

ELITE  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Darwin Bay's Flooded Caldera

Espumilla Beach, day 3

Possible5 spotsAsk about this date

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

Your selection
Solaris · Solaris: Route BCA
23/11/2026 · 14 nights · from US$14,095
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María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$6,190
296 departures