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Wildlife bingoWhereTours Updated Nov 6, 2026

Where to see marine iguanas in the Galápagos

The only sea-going lizard in the world lines the lava shores of every main island. On Española the males stay red and green all year.

  • commonodds of seeing one
  • All yearbest months
  • 4places to see it
  • VulnerableIUCN status
Marine iguana on black lava rock
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Short answer: You will see marine iguanas on almost any Galápagos shore: the Tintoreras islets off Puerto Villamil on Isabela, the North Seymour coast on a day tour from Santa Cruz, and the harbour and Tortuga Bay shore in Puerto Ayora. They are there all year. December to March is the breeding season, when some males colour up. For the brightest red and green, Punta Suárez on Española is on cruise itineraries.

Marine iguanas live only in the Galápagos and are listed as Vulnerable, with several subpopulations rated Endangered. Size depends on the island: adult males reach 12 kg on southern Isabela but only about 1 kg on Genovesa.

When to see marine iguanas

  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–MarMarine iguana breeding season; males colour up

Where to see marine iguanas

Day trip

Tintoreras islets (nesting)

Day boat from Puerto Villamil.

Isabela · Isabela island guide

Day trip

North Seymour coast

Day tour from Santa Cruz.

North Seymour · from Santa Cruz

Cruise

Punta Suárez (red and green colour all year)

Cruise itineraries.

Española

Land-based

Puerto Ayora harbour and Tortuga Bay shore

Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz 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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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 factMarine iguanas get rid of extra salt by sneezing it out through glands in the nose. They can dive to 30 m, though most dives stay shallower than 5 m.
  • SizeSnout to vent 12 to 56 cm; adult males up to 12 kg on southern Isabela and about 1 kg on Genovesa.
  • Scientific nameAmblyrhynchus cristatus, found only in the Galápagos

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 see marine iguanas in the Galápagos?

On the lava shores of all the main islands. Good bets are the Tintoreras islets near Puerto Villamil, the North Seymour coast, the shore at Puerto Ayora and Tortuga Bay, and Punta Suárez on Española.

When do marine iguanas change colour?

Breeding runs from December to March, when some males turn brighter. On Española the iguanas stay red and green all year.

Do marine iguanas swim?

Yes. They feed in the sea and can dive to 30 m, though most dives are shallower than 5 m. Back on land they sneeze out excess salt through glands in the nose.

Also on the card

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Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Galápagos Conservancy, Charles Darwin Foundation, 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.