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The galapagos sea turtle you swim with is the East Pacific green turtle, and it is one of the easiest big animals to see here. You will find them grazing in shallow bays like Tortuga Bay and Las Bachas, and from December to June the females haul up onto the beaches at night to nest. Here is what they are, where to swim with them, and how they nest.
You’ll have great chances to snorkel alongside sea turtles on our land-based Galápagos tours.
People often mix up the galapagos sea turtle with the giant tortoise, but they are completely different animals: the tortoise is a land reptile that lives in the highlands, while the sea turtle is a marine reptile you meet in the water. The first time a green turtle glided past me on a snorkel, close enough to touch but utterly calm, I understood why people travel across the world for this. If you’d rather have this built around your own dates, tell us what you have in mind — free quote within 24 hours.
What is the Galapagos sea turtle?
Four species of sea turtle swim through Galapagos waters, but only one nests here: the galapagos green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii), a dark-shelled East Pacific subspecies of the green sea turtle. Locally it is simply called the galapagos green turtle, and it is the one you will almost always see while snorkelling.
They are big — adults reach about 1.5 metres and 110 to 185 kg — and surprisingly long-lived, taking decades to reach sexual maturity. Despite their size they are gentle grazers, drifting over seagrass and algae and surfacing for a slow breath before sinking back down.
Where and when to swim with sea turtles in Galapagos
Seeing the galapagos sea turtle does not take luck — it takes knowing the right bays. These are the most reliable, several reachable on a land-based trip:
- Tortuga Bay (Santa Cruz) — the name literally means “turtle bay”; turtles graze in the calm lagoon at the end of the beach.
- Las Bachas and Cerro Dragon (Santa Cruz) — shallow bays where green turtles feed close to shore.
- Gardner Bay (Española) and Loberia (San Cristobal) — snorkel spots where turtles share the water with sea lions and rays.
Best time: turtles are here year-round, but the water is warmest and clearest from December to May, which is also nesting season. Early morning snorkels give you the calmest water and the best chance of a relaxed encounter.
Nesting and hatching
From December to June, female green sea turtles come ashore at night to dig nests in the sandy beaches above the high-tide line. Each female lays around 200 eggs, then covers the nest and returns to the sea, leaving the eggs to incubate on their own. Our 7-day island hopping trip covers this stretch.
6-Day Galapagos Land Tour Santa Cruz + Isabela Highlights
From $1,150 p.p.
- Sleep in island hotels, not a cruise cabin
- Local naturalist guides
- Flexible day-by-day island hopping
The eggs hatch after roughly 45 to 70 days, and the temperature of the sand decides whether the hatchlings are male or female. The main wave of hatching happens around May, when tiny turtles scramble down the beach to the ocean — one of the most moving things you can witness in the islands. If you find a nesting beach, keep your distance and never use a light.
Quick sea turtle facts
A few sea turtle facts worth knowing before your trip:
- Species: the East Pacific green turtle, Chelonia mydas — the only sea turtle that nests in the Galapagos.
- Size: up to 1.5 m and 185 kg, making it one of the largest sea turtles.
- A female can lay around 200 eggs per nest; eggs hatch in 45 to 70 days.
- Nest temperature determines the sex of the hatchlings.
- They are a marine reptile — not the same animal as the land-dwelling giant tortoise.
Where You Will Actually Swim With One
Green turtles are among the few large animals here you are almost guaranteed to see in the water rather than from a boat. The calm bays of Santa Cruz Island and the sheltered inlets around Isabela Island are where most encounters happen, and Tortuga Bay is named for them.
Our Galapagos snorkeling guide maps the sites where they are most consistent, and Galapagos islands animals places them alongside the rest of the marine life you will meet on the same swim.
Frequently asked questions about the Galapagos sea turtle
Are there sea turtles in the Galapagos?
Yes, and they are easy to see. The green sea turtle is common in shallow bays such as Tortuga Bay, Las Bachas and Gardner Bay, where snorkellers regularly swim alongside them.
Can you swim with sea turtles in the Galapagos?
Yes — it is one of the highlights of any trip. You will often find green turtles grazing in calm bays while snorkelling. Keep a respectful distance, do not chase or touch them, and let them come to you.
Can you touch the Galapagos sea turtles?
No. Touching or chasing wildlife is against national park rules and stresses the animals. Float still and let the turtle approach on its own — they are curious and often will.
What is the difference between a Galapagos sea turtle and a giant tortoise?
The sea turtle is a marine reptile you see in the water; the giant tortoise is a land reptile that lives in the highlands. Different animals entirely — only the giant tortoise is found nowhere else on Earth.
When do Galapagos sea turtles nest?
Nesting runs roughly December to June, with eggs hatching after 45 to 70 days. The biggest wave of hatchlings emerges around May.
Seeing the sea turtles up close
No animal makes the Galapagos feel as effortless as the green sea turtle — you wade off a beach, put your face in the water, and there one is, grazing as if you were just another fish. Pair a turtle bay with the highlands and you can meet both the sea turtle and the giant tortoise in a single day.
You can read more about the species at the Galapagos Conservation Trust and the Charles Darwin Foundation. See the rest of the cast in my guide to Galapagos islands animals.
