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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$3,320
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.

3 of 3 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

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

25/09/2026US$3,320

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely3 spotsAsk about this date
26/09/2026US$7,992

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

Dragon Hill, day 2

Possible6 spotsAsk about this date
26/09/2026US$4,080

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date
27/09/2026US$3,600

Galaxy Stella  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Fur Seals

Charles Darwin Station, day 4

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$5,415

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely3 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$3,320

Solaris  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: South Plaza's Hybrid Iguana

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely11 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely11 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$3,735

Treasure  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 4

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 4

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 4

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
30/09/2026US$7,140

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$3,352

MONIQUE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Santa Cruz's Wild Tortoises

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$6,035

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 3

Likely7 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$3,320

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

Black Turtle Cove, day 5

Likely13 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Black Turtle Cove, day 5

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 11

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$3,570

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

03/10/2026US$5,576

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

Dragon Hill, day 2

Possible2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$10,045

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CA

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 7

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 7

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
04/10/2026US$7,992

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 3

Likely4 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
Tribute · Tribute: Route CA
01/10/2026 · 10 nights · from US$13,490
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from US$3,320
2011 departures