6 Must-See Galapagos Island Beaches for Your Next Vacation

The beach holiday is the platonic ideal of vacations: what nearly every traveler, whether active or armchair, dreams of. Soft sand, shady palms, a cold drink, a warm surf and pristine waters—what more could you want?

If you are Looking for some amazing beaches you just have to see? You’ve come to the right place! Keep reading to learn about 6 fascinating beaches in the Galapagos Islands for your next vacation.

1. Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz

Tortuga Bay is one of the nicest beaches I’ve ever been to. It’s a very beautiful 30-minute walk from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The walk alone is beautiful; you get to see the flora, lava rock, and likely some lava lizards.

Once you get to the beach, you will see gorgeous white sand and turquoise water. The beach is also nicely populated with mangrove trees which make for great snorkeling. And of course, you are likely to see the ever-present marine iguanas.

2. Red Sand Beach, Rabida

The beach on Rabida Island is special. Its sand is a deep red/maroon color. It’s a beloved hangout for and brown pelicans, and if you get in the water, you might just see a white-tipped reef shark. While white sand beaches may be the dream, walking on a red sand beach is definitely one for the bucket list.

So, what makes the sand red? The secret is in the high iron content of the volcanic material.

3. La Loberia, San Cristobal

“La Loberia” basically means “the wolfery.” Now, that’s super bad English grammar, but the point is that it refers to the Galapagos sea lions (lobos del mar – in Spanish) that are all over this beach. If you want to see sea lions, their namesake beach is probably the place to go.

On the way there, you’ll also see Galapagos cotton trees and mangroves.

4. Puerto Villamil, Isabella

This beach features palm trees, white sand, and gorgeous turquoise water. Around the water, you can see giant tortoises, iguanas, and flamingos.

5. Bartolome Island Beach

Bartolome beach has great opportunities for snorkeling, and it has some great natural beauty. Some of these cool natural formations include Pinnacle Rock, a huge, jutting, lava rock that sticks out over the water.

6. Gardner Bay, Espanola Island

Gardner Bay (also known as Garner Bay) is a popular spot for snorkelers. You can see sea lions and manta rays, and on land, you will most likely see the lazy sea lions living it up and some lava lizards. The white sand and amazing turquoise water is a paradise!