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Wildlife bingoWhereTours Updated Nov 6, 2026

Where to see sea turtles in the Galápagos

Green sea turtles turn up on most snorkel stops, and nest on beaches on Isabela and Santa Cruz in the warm season.

  • commonodds of seeing one
  • All yearbest months
  • 4places to see it
  • Least ConcernIUCN status
Green sea turtle swimming in clear water
Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0

Short answer: Snorkel at Tintoreras off Puerto Villamil on Isabela, or swim at Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz and Concha de Perla on Isabela. Turtles are in the water all year and appear on most snorkel trips. Las Bachas on Santa Cruz is a major nesting beach, reached on a day tour or a cruise; nesting falls in the warm season, roughly December to June.

The Galápagos green turtle, sometimes called the black turtle, is smaller than the global average. The main nesting site for the population is Quinta Playa on Isabela, which is not open to casual visits. Globally the species is listed as Least Concern.

When to see sea turtles

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Best months: All year. Odds of seeing one: common.

  • Dec–JunGreen sea turtle nesting season
  • AprGreen turtle eggs start hatching

Where to see sea turtles

Day trip

Tintoreras

Day boat from Puerto Villamil.

Isabela · Isabela island guide

Day trip

Las Bachas (major nesting site)

Day tour or cruise.

Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz island guide

No casual visits

Quinta Playa (main nesting site for the population)

Not a casual visitor site.

Isabela · Isabela island guide

Land-based

Tortuga Bay and Concha de Perla

Santa Cruz / Isabela · Santa Cruz island guide, Isabela island guide

EQUATOR · 0° Volcán Wolf≈ 1,670 mVolcán Wolf: highest point about 1,670 m in the GMRT elevation gridCerro Azul≈ 1,650 mCerro Azul: highest point about 1,650 m in the GMRT elevation gridSierra Negra≈ 1,110 mSierra Negra: highest point about 1,110 m in the GMRT elevation gridAlcedo≈ 1,130 mAlcedo: highest point about 1,130 m in the GMRT elevation gridVolcán Darwin≈ 1,370 mVolcán Darwin: highest point about 1,370 m in the GMRT elevation gridLa Cumbre≈ 1,440 mLa Cumbre (Fernandina): highest point about 1,440 m in the GMRT elevation gridSanta Cruz highlands≈ 820 mSanta Cruz highlands: highest point about 820 m in the GMRT elevation gridSan Cristóbal highlands≈ 680 mSan Cristóbal highlands: highest point about 680 m in the GMRT elevation gridSantiago≈ 890 mSantiago: highest point about 890 m in the GMRT elevation gridPinta≈ 610 mPinta: highest point about 610 m in the GMRT elevation grid ISABELAFERNANDINASANTIAGOSANTA CRUZSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANAESPAÑOLAPINTAMARCHENAGENOVESASANTA FEPINZÓNBALTRA North SeymourBartoloméSanta FeSouth PlazaPinzónKicker RockLos TúnelesTintorerasTortuga BaySierra NegraPunta SuárezEl ChatoLas GrietasDarwin Station Puerto AyoraPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPuerto VillamilPuerto Velasco Ibarra ✈GPSBaltra (GPS)✈SCYSan Cristóbal (SCY)✈IBBIsabela (IBB) Giant tortoisesPenguinsPenguinsBlue-footed boobiesFlamingosFlamingosSea lions in townMarine iguanasFlightless cormorantsWaved albatross (Apr–Dec)Red-footed boobiesTurtles & sharks (snorkel)White-tip sharks ↖ Darwin & Wolf: dive boats only 050 km N
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See Turtles & sharks (snorkel) on the 3D map →

Which tour goes there

All Galápagos tours →

Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

Every tour on all islands, filtered by animal: day-tour finder.

Did you know?

  • Fun factThe name comes from the greenish fat under the shell, not from the shell, which is olive to black.
  • SizeGalápagos adults are smaller than the global average of a 78 to 112 cm shell and 68 to 190 kg.
  • Scientific nameChelonia mydas

On every visit: keep 2 metres from wildlife, cameras included, and visit park sites with a certified naturalist guide. The full list: visitor rules.

Questions people ask

Where can you snorkel with sea turtles in the Galápagos?

Tintoreras and Concha de Perla near Puerto Villamil on Isabela, Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz, and the Los Túneles, Pinzón and Kicker Rock snorkel tours.

When do sea turtles nest in the Galápagos?

In the warm season, roughly December to June, and eggs start hatching from April. Las Bachas on Santa Cruz is a major nesting beach; Quinta Playa on Isabela is the main one.

Why is it called a green turtle?

For the greenish fat under the shell, not for the shell itself, which is olive to black.

Also on the card

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Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos Conservancy, Galápagos Conservation Trust. More numbers:facts and figures.

Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.