Tortuga Bay(Tortuga Bay Beach, Tortuga Beach)

Located in Santa Cruz Island, Tortuga Bay – also called Bahia Tortuga and Tortuga Bay Beach – is a popular and beautiful hook-shaped white sand beach in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.  The larger south-facing part of this beach is called Playa Brava, while the smaller western part of this beach is called Playa Mansa.  These two beach areas are separated by a rocky headland.  The shoreline around this beach is rocky and this beach is part of an ecological reserve named the Galapagos National Park.  TripAdvisor listed Tortuga Bay Beach Ecuador as one of the 10 best beaches in the world as a part of its annual Travellers’ Choice awards in 2017.  In addition, Lonely Planet also listed Tortuga Bay Beach Galapagos as one of the best beaches in Ecuador in 2022 – it was also listed as one of the best beaches in the world by The Guardian in 2016, and it is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

This beach is usually open between 6 am and 6 pm. 

Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except a nearby walking trail and kayak rental facilities, so please plan accordingly – the kayak rental facilities are located near the western end of the beach.  If you want to use restrooms, you can find a few restrooms at the start of the stone path that leads to this beach.

Tortuga Bay offers many fun activities including sunbathing, hiking, beachcombing, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, boogie boarding, bodysurfing, boating, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, parasailing, canoeing, kayaking, and wildlife watching. 

The larger south-facing portion of this beach is ideal for expert and strong surfers because the water here is known to offer fun surfing waves.  Beginner swimmers also visit Playa Mansa near the western end of Tortuga Bay because the water here is relatively calmer.  In addition, snorkelers also visit Playa Mansa to explore the vibrant marine biodiversity nearby.  If you are planning to swim, surf, or boogie board here, we recommend being careful because the water here is frequently known to have dangerous rip currents and turbulent waves – Playa Brava is particularly known to have dangerous waves.  The near shore water here also sometimes has poor underwater visibility.

This beach is particularly renowned for having a vibrant biodiversity and you can see many semi-aquatic and terrestrial animals and birds here including marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, pelicans, sea turtles, lava lizards, and sally light-foot crabs.  In addition, there are many interesting varieties of plants here, including mangroves and hundred-year-old cactus plants.  If you like taking pictures with beautiful views, Tortuga Bay offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the southern Santa Cruz Island shoreline, especially at sunset.

Tortuga Bay does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities, so please plan accordingly.

Getting to Tortuga Bay is slightly difficult because you need to hike along a one-and-a-half-mile-long walking path to reach it – this walking path is made of stone, has a few stairs, and is located just outside the nearby town of Puerto Ayora.  This path is easily accessible from Puerto Ayora and there is a free parking lot nearby – once you have reached the start of this path, you need to register yourself at a Galapagos National Park checkpoint located here.  After registration, you can then start walking on the path, which will eventually lead you to Tortuga Bay. 

If you want to travel by boat, you can book a water taxi to the beach from the nearby town of Puerto Ayora – the water taxis charge around $10 for a trip to this beach.  We recommend visiting this beach early during summer, between December and May, because the weather here can get considerably hot during this time.  We recommend carrying insect repellent when visiting this beach, because it is known to have horseflies and mosquitos.

This beach received its name – Tortuga Bay – because it is known to be a popular nesting site for local sea turtles.

There are many attractions near Tortuga Bay.  Las Grietas Galapagos is a natural swimming pool with rocky walls on both sides.  This popular natural swimming pool offers many fun activities including swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling – many guests also dive into the water from the cliff tops above.  Los Gemelos – also called the Galapagos Twin Craters – are actually a pair of sinkholes that are formed because of underground lava flows.  These sinkholes offer a unique insight into the local geology and you can also see many kinds of local animals and birds here. There are a series of lava tunnels near Tortuga Bay that are another popular attraction – these tunnels are fun to explore, but some of them can be narrow and dark, so you need to bring a flashlight.  Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center is a breeding center that seeks to conserve giant Galapagos tortoises – this center was also home to the iconic Pinta Island giant tortoise “Lonesome George” and it offers a unique insight into the local biodiversity.  

Charles Darwin Research Station is a research center that was founded in 1959 to undertake scientific research and to promote environmental education.  This center offers many interesting exhibitions on local natural history, culture, and ecology – in addition, it also offers a native plant garden, a cafeteria, a library, and a gift shop.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve is located in the nearby San Cristobal Island and it is dedicated to the conservation of Galapagos giant tortoises – you can see many giant tortoises here. In addition, there are many shops here that sell movies and handicrafts.  

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Tortuga Bay.  Galapagos Deli is a restaurant that offers a variety of excellent dishes including pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and fish-and-chips – it also offers refreshing beverages.  El Muelle de Darwin is a restaurant that offers many delicious dishes including pork chops, ribs, seafood, and pasta – in addition, it also serves a variety of unique cocktails.  The Rock Galapagos is known for serving excellent Asian-inspired dishes including ramen, fried rice, yakitori, and Korean gochujang wings.  Santa Cruz Brewery offers amazing beers and it also offers great pub-style dishes including burgers, barbecue ribs, and chicken nuggets.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Restaurante Descanso del Guia offers many amazing local and International cuisines for lunch and breakfast. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Tortuga Bay, there are many great nearby options.  The 4-Star Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, a garden, a pool, a spa, massage services, and loaner facilities for watersports equipment.  Another great Tortuga Bay resort is the 4-Star Angermeyer Waterfront Inn that offers many amenities including a restaurant, a cafe, a sundeck, a pier, and complimentary breakfast.  The 4-Star Ikala Galapagos Hotel is another great hotel that offers a variety of amenities including a pool, a restaurant, and bike loaner facilities.  A more affordable nearby Tortuga Bay hotel is the 3-Star Hotel Fiesta offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, outdoor sitting areas, a garden, a pool table, and table tennis.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby Galapagos Tortuga Bay hotel, the 3-Star Hotel Espana offers many amenities including a pool, a restaurant, and a terrace.