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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$2,966
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.

4 of 4 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Where
on most islands
When
Year round, more between Jan and Mar
JFMAMJJASOND

On 85 of 97 routes · 1937 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Land Iguana

Conolophus subcristatus

Where
7 sites on 6 islands, mostly South
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 83 of 97 routes · 2012 departures in season

See these departures  →

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 · 2064 departures in season

See these departures  →

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

See these departures  →

Select a departure that actually reaches it

1003 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Galápagos Land Iguana is, at the time it is there.

1003
  • 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.
26/09/2026US$7,992

ELITE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds

Urbina Bay, day 4

Likely6 spotsAsk about this date
26/09/2026US$4,080

EcoGalaxy  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill's Restoration

Tagus Cove, day 3

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$5,415

Alya  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Tagus Cove, day 11

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Tagus Cove, day 8

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Tagus Cove, day 8

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
30/09/2026US$7,140

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

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Tagus Cove, day 7

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

Tagus Cove, day 7

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$3,570

Galaxy Orion  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Isabela's Tortoise Hatchery

Tagus Cove, day 5

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$5,576

Treasure  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
04/10/2026US$7,992

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

Tagus Cove, day 6

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$5,295

Archipel I  ·  8-Day Western Islands: Urbina Bay's Coral Uplift

Urbina Bay, day 5

05/10/2026US$7,475

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB4

Urbina Bay, day 5

05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

Urbina Bay, day 5

06/10/2026US$5,266

Solaris  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Las Tintoreras' Reef Sharks

Tagus Cove, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route AB

Tagus Cove, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

Tagus Cove, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Tagus Cove, day 12

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
08/10/2026US$6,632

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

Tagus Cove, day 5

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
08/10/2026US$5,295

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B4

Urbina Bay, day 2

08/10/2026US$2,966

Archipel I  ·  5-Day Western Islands: Puerto Egas' Fur Seal Colony

Urbina Bay, day 2

08/10/2026US$8,345

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B

Urbina Bay, day 2

09/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

Tagus Cove, day 12

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
10/10/2026US$7,992

ELITE  ·  8-Day Western Islands: El Junco's Bathing Frigatebirds

Urbina Bay, day 4

Likely6 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$5,415

Alya  ·  6-Day Western Islands: Punta Vicente Roca's Mantas

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Tagus Cove, day 11

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Tagus Cove, day 8

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Tagus Cove, day 8

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
14/10/2026US$6,720

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

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
16/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Tagus Cove, day 7

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
17/10/2026US$5,266

Treasure  ·  7-Day Western Islands: Dragon Hill Land Iguanas

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers5 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

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María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$2,966
1003 departures