Speak to us+ 1 786 509 6338

The Galápagos Cruise  ·  Wildlife

Galápagos Reptiles: 6 Species and Where to See Them

6
species recorded
5
found only here
12
islands
US$1,800
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.

6 of 6 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

Galápagos Rice Rat

Nesoryzomys / Aegialomys spp.

Santa Fé Bay
Where
1 site, Santa Fé Bay
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 42 of 97 routes · 952 departures in season

See these departures  →

Santa Fé Land Iguana

Conolophus pallidus

Santa Fé Bay
Where
1 site, Santa Fé Bay
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 42 of 97 routes · 952 departures in season

See these departures  →

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

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

Isabela Interpretation Center, day 3

Stragglers6 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
26/09/2026US$2,120

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

Bartolomé Summit, day 2

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
27/09/2026US$3,600

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

Post Office Bay, day 3

Stragglers2 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

Post Office Bay, day 3

Stragglers13 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Post Office Bay, day 3

Stragglers4 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$3,992

ELITE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Post Office Bay, day 3

Stragglers5 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

Tagus Cove, day 4

Stragglers2 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
04/10/2026US$4,152

MONIQUE  ·  5-Day Southern & Western: Kicker Rock's Swim Channel

Kicker Rock (León Dormido), day 1

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$5,295

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

Santa Fé Bay, day 2

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$2,036

Archipel I  ·  4-Day Southern & Northern: Chinese Hat's Shark Channel

Santa Fé Bay, day 2

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$7,475

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB4

Santa Fé Bay, day 2

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

Santa Fé Bay, day 2

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$5,130

Galaxy Sirius  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony

Post Office Bay, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$5,266

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

Las Tintoreras, day 2

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

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route AB

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 7

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 7

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$3,840

Galaxy Stella  ·  5-Day Northern Islands: Kicker Rock's Shark Channel

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 4

Likely4 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$4,956

Tribute  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely14 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely14 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

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
08/10/2026US$2,966

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

Urbina Bay, day 2

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
08/10/2026US$8,345

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B

Urbina Bay, day 2

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
09/10/2026US$3,735

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date
09/10/2026US$8,300

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route AB

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
09/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

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

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

Isabela Interpretation Center, day 3

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
11/10/2026US$1,800

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

Post Office Bay, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$5,415

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$5,295

Archipel I  ·  8-Day Southern & Northern: Prince Philip's Booby Steps

Darwin Bay, day 2

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$2,036

Archipel I  ·  4-Day Northern & Western: Sullivan Bay's Fresh Lava

Darwin Bay, day 2

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$3,528

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely5 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$3,735

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 4

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 4

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 4

Likely2 spotsAsk about this date
14/10/2026US$6,720

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely3 spotsAsk about this date
15/10/2026US$5,992

ENDEMIC  ·  Western Galápagos Islands

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 6

Likely8 spotsAsk about this date
15/10/2026US$3,352

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

Santa Cruz Highlands, day 1

Likely9 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 AB
09/10/2026 · 8 nights · from US$8,300
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$1,800
2108 departures