Galapagos family vacation, what you need to know to plan your trip
12/02/2023
What is the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands?
12/04/2023What are the best beaches in the Galapagos Islands?
The sound of the tide hitting the Yacht while you are lying on the sun deck, observing the immensity of the Pacific Ocean, approaching a new adventure on the beaches of the Galapagos Islands.
Visiting Galapagos is finding yourself in places where the Pacific Ocean crashes against colorful volcanic cones, sand dunes in the beach, the sea breeze directing the flight of various seabirds, and the immense and undulating ocean being the home of various species of fascinating animals. These characteristics have made the beaches of the Galapagos Islands the ideal destination to relax in front of a tropical landscape while the day goes by, or to boost your spirit of adventure and dive into the water to explore tropical marine life
This is our selection of the most beautiful Galapagos Islands beaches. In this guide we will list each beach based on experience and interaction with wildlife, however the entire archipelago is an impressive destination to discover.
1. Tortuga Bay (Santa Cruz)
This beautiful beach with white sand and clear turquoise water is located south of Santa Cruz Island and has one of the most attractive coastlines in the world; Tortuga Bay is divided into two different areas for lovers of water sports as well as those who love to lay in the sand. The first is Playa Brava, where the main activity is surfing in the big waves of the sea; the other area is Playa Mansa, ideal for family vacations in galapagos, couple vacations or solo travel. In Playa Mansa you can snorkel in the Galapagos with sea turtles, swim with tropical fish, or venture out in a kayak.
Depending on the season you travel to the Galapagos Islands, you can find wildlife in each point on the beach, like having funny and lazy sea lions resting on the sand as a company, and between the months of January to May you can see the nests of sea turtles on the beach, so it is important not to get close nor climb the sand dunes to avoid harming the species.
2. Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)
On the north coast of Santa Cruz Island, Bachas Beach is made up of two large beaches that have many stories to tell.
Surely you know that its name originated as a result of World War II, when the US army abandoned this place, they left their boats forgotten on the Island. As time passed, the settlers changed the name of the boats “barches” to Bachas who now safeguard the island.
However, Bachas Beach is much more than a story, when you visit it you will see a landscape covered in perfect white sand, ideal for nesting and foraging of sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). In addition, (among all the Galapagos Islands’ beaches) this beach is a paradise for bird lovers, since the lagoon behind the first beach is one of the favorite spots for flamingos, black-winged stilts and many species of migratory birds, however, if you want to discover this place and enjoy bird photography in Galapagos it is important to keep quiet and be stealthy so as not to frighten the birds.
3. Pitt's Point (San Cristóbal)
A series of volcanic cones form the beautiful beach of Punta Pitt, here the highlight is that this volcanic location is its fascinating scenery of various colors. Due to the olivine sediments, the different types of lava, soil and tropical vegetation, the sand gradually acquires properties and minerals that turn it into a beautiful olive hue.
Upon arrival you will notice a path that directs visitors from the beach to the top of the hill, in this place you will have a broader perspective of all the colors that dye the island and various species of Galapagos birds; like blue-footed boobies, frigates and red-footed boobies.
At Punta Pitt you can also lie on the beach and share the coast with sea lions that rest on the sand or snorkel in the Galapagos with the support of a certified naturalist guide and swim in the Pacific Ocean with various tropical fish such as the flagfish, surgeonfish and the Galapagos grunt, species that remain close to several Galapagos Islands beaches.
4. Gardner Bay (Isla Española)
On the eastern coast of Española Island is Gardner Bay and Gardner Islands, a group of small islands that share white coral sand, turquoise water, and an enormous diversity of endemic flora and fauna.
It is important to point out that you can only get to this visiting point aboard a cruise to the Galapagos Islands that has this visiting point on its itinerary. When you arrive you will see large families of sea lions, iguanas, lava lizards, various types of reptiles, as well as mockingbirds, albatross, and other birds that are always willing to be the protagonists of a great photograph.
And if you decide to do some activity in the water, you can take a kayak ride and snorkel.
5. La lobería (Isla San Cristóbal)
A quiet beach to lie down and read your favorite book while sharing the island with its true owners, large groups of sea lions that lie down to sunbathe on the coast protected by rocks.
In La Lobería you can practice snorkeling to explore the beauty of the ocean that surrounds San Cristóbal Island; In the bay you can explore the rocky reefs with your naturalist guide and observe a great variety of tropical fish.
The sunsets in this place are impressive. Observing the orange, purple and blue colors of the sky reflected in the water is a unique experience that your memory will treasure forever.
Finally we want to tell you that Galapagos is also our home. We love it and take care of it daily to preserve it as a corner where every creature that arrives feels safe. That is why we want to share it with you, and show you our favorite places so that you can also visit it, care for it, and love it.
If you want to visit some of the best beaches in the Galapagos Islands, contact us. We will be happy to help you.
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