Tortuga Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches you can visit in the Galapagos Islands. Located on Santa Cruz Island, Tortuga Bay is a beautiful white sand beach surrounded by crystal clear waters and full of great animal life. Tortuga Bay owes its name the large number of black sea turtles that nest here.
On this beautiful beach visitors can enjoy various activities, from sunbathing, hiking, kayaking and snorkeling to observe the diverse marine life.
In this Tortuga Bay-Galapagos Islands guide we provide you with all the necessary information for visiting this beautiful beach. ¿How to get there? ¿What to do? In addition the animal life that you will be able to observe and more information.
HOW TO GET TORTUGA BAY?
Tortuga Bay is located on the south coast of Santa Cruz Island, a few kilometers from Puerto Ayora. To access this beautiful beach there are several ways. It can be aboard an elegant and comfortable cruise ship. Some of the cruises in Galapagos include the bay in their itineraries. It can also be accessed on a boat ride, departing from the port of Puerto Ayora. The trip takes about 20 minutes and costs $10 per person.
Another way to get there is walking from Puerto Ayora, the trip takes about an hour. The trail to Tortuga Bay starts at the end of Charles Binford Avenue, near the tourist port. Hiking to the bay is one of the best options to see finches, warblers, mockingbirds and even lava lizards, while enjoying the scenery.
PLAYA BRAVA Y PLAYA MANSA
Tortuga Bay is divided into two parts: Playa Mansa and Playa Brava.
Playa Brava as its name suggests is characterized by strong water currents. It is a perfect beach for surfing, but swimming is prohibited, as it can be dangerous.
Playa Mansa, on the other hand, is a safer and more protected area. Here the waves are much calmer and ideal for swimming and snorkeling along with small reef sharks and marine iguanas. Or if you prefer, you can relax and sunbathe on the white sand, while enjoying the scenery.
THINGS TO DO IN TORTUGA BAY
In addition to enjoy the beaches of Tortuga Bay, where you can relax, snorkel with wildlife, sunbathe and walk along bird watching trails. You can see pelicans, finches and even flamingos in the salt lagoon of the mangroves.
WILDLIFE TO SEE
On your visit to Tortuga Bay you will be able to observe marine iguanas, a unique species that has adapted the ability to dive into the sea in search of food. So, if you see them up close, you will be able to observe them sneezing salt out of their noses.
You will also be able to observe a great diversity of birds, the ones that stand out the most are the blue-footed boobies, famous for their striking blue legs. Other birds flitting around the beach are the Galapagos mockingbirds.
Sea lions and green sea turtles are usually seen in the crystal clear waters. As well as the white tip reef shark, you can see it if you jump into diving.
After reading this Tortuga Bay-Galapagos Islands guide, I am sure you will want to visit Tortuga Bay and get to know all these charms. If you want to organize a visit to this beautiful beach, either by cruise or land tour, contact us for an unique adventure.