Email ushello@thegalapagoscruise.com

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.

2 of 2 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

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  →

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

24/09/2026US$4,140

Alya  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Bartolome's Endemic Plant

Bartolomé Summit, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
25/09/2026US$3,320

Treasure  ·  5-Day Northern & Western: Punta Pitt's Triple Boobies

Bartolomé Summit, day 2

Stragglers3 spotsAsk about this date
26/09/2026US$7,992

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

Bartolomé Summit, day 6

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
26/09/2026US$2,120

Galaxy Orion  ·  5-Day Western & Southern: San Cristobal's Highlands

Bartolomé Summit, day 2

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

Bartolomé Summit, day 8

Stragglers11 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Bartolomé Summit, day 8

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Bartolomé Summit, day 12

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

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

Bartolomé Summit, day 6

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$6,035

Galaxy Sirius  ·  6-Day Western & Northern: Rabida's Red Sand Beach

Bartolomé Summit, day 4

Stragglers7 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Bartolomé Summit, day 5

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

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Bartolomé Summit, day 5

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$3,320

Solaris  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks

Bartolomé Summit, day 4

Stragglers13 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
Treasure · Treasure: Route BCA
29/09/2026 · 14 nights · from US$14,095
Change
María Fernanda Ortiz
We reply within one business day

Prefer to talk? + 1 786 509 6338

We answer first thing on the next working day

Talk to us

Tell us who is traveling and we will check this departure for availability.

Only if you prefer a call back

We usually call back within the hour, weekdays 9am to 6pm CT. Your written offer follows within one business day.

from US$2,120
997 departures