5 Best Beaches in Santa Cruz, Galapagos
All You Need to Know
- Last Updated: September 12, 2024
If your goal is to discover the best beaches in Santa Cruz, then you have come to the right place.
You will find the top spots for surfing, the free ones, the ones in close proximity to town, the ones where you can observe most wildlife, witness stunning sunsets, unwind and relax, or spend time with your family and friends having a blast.
Get access to my curated list of all the best viewpoints, hiking trails, secret waterfalls, diving spots, wildlife tours, accommodations, and more, that will make your trip to Ecuador and The Galapagos unforgettable.
All of this, in an interactive guide featuring a mobile-friendly map, pre-designed itineraries, all my favorite photos, and helpful travel tips to guide your journey in this amazing unexplored country.
If you want personalized advice write me in-app and we can plan it together.
The Best Beaches in
Santa Cruz Island
Here is the list of the best beaches available to you, categorized based on your preferences, so that you can choose the one that suits you best:
- Best beaches for surfing: Tortuga Bay, La Ratonera, El Bazan, Tres Picos, Piedra Ahogada, Punta Nuñez, Ola Escondida, and Punta Gallina.
- Best beaches to relax: Tortuga Bay, El Garrapatero.
- Best beaches to snorkel: Tortuga Bay, Station Beach, La Ratonera, Playa de Los Alemanes, El Garrapatero, and Las Bachas.
- Best beaches for free: Tortuga Bay, La Ratonera, and Station Beach.
- Most accessible beaches: La Ratonera and Station Beach.
- Most paradisiac beaches w/ white sand: Tortuga Bay, El Garrapatero, Las Bachas.
For more information on the best beaches in Santa Cruz and other official details, visit the Galapagos Conservancy’s website for Santa Cruz Island.
The Best Beaches in Santa Cruz
My Top 5 Beaches
I have compiled comprehensive articles on each of my favorite beaches, which I will link together for your convenience. These articles provide information on how to access the beaches, what to pack, the sights to see, the costs involved, and the estimated travel time.
Without further delay, I present to you my top 5 beaches on Santa Cruz Island:
(click the pins on the map to read all about the beaches)
5. Las Bachas
If Las Bachas beach were located next to Puerto Ayora, it would surely be ranked higher on this list. This beach boasts paradisiacal white sand, but similar to Bahia Rosa Blanca in San Cristobal, it can only be accessed through a tour to North Seymour island or a taxi-boat from Itabaca Channel – Baltra island.
Due to its limited accessibility, it is ranked lower on the list. Nevertheless, if you have the opportunity to visit, please do so, as it is truly stunning.
In my article about the best places to snorkel in Santa Cruz, I have provided links to tours that can take you to Las Bachas beach.
View the full blog post here: 14 BEST SNORKELING SPOTS IN SANTA CRUZ, GALAPAGOS
4. La Ratonera
La Ratonera Beach is the most distant beach on the Charles Darwin Research Center complex. For that reason and from being a bit closer to the open sea, it is especially famous for its surfing-quality waves, and probably as far as snorkeling in Santa Cruz goes, is should also be a nice place to try.
This beach has lots of rocks and little sand next to the water and there aren’t usually many people here, it is free and it’s the perfect refreshment after spending some hours at the research station. You can usually find a couple of marine iguanas disguised as rocks around the beach.
View the full blog post here: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION IN SANTA CRUZ
3. Playa de Los Alemanes
Playa de Los Alemanes or Germans Beach is located right next to Las Grietas and it’s the perfect place to come if you want to relax with your family. It is possible to come here for 1$ USD by water taxi from the main port of Puerto Ayora. Try to come on low tide cause the sand almost disappears on high tide. The water is usually very calm and shallow and it’s the perfect spot for snorkeling.
You might be lucky your hotel is nearby and you can come here whenever you want. If it’s not and you come on the Bay Tour you can ask your guide to stay on the beach and later just pay for a water taxi to go back.
View the full blog post here: BAY TOUR IN SANTA CRUZ
To book this tour: Check the local company Galapagos Dream’s website, or book it online on Viator here: Half Day Bay Tour in Santa Cruz Island
2. El Garrapatero
El Garrapatero is another nice alternative beach you can go for snorkeling in Santa Cruz if you’ve already been to Tortuga Bay. This white-sanded beach has a lagoon next to it usually with many flamingos. On the beach you can swim, kayak, sunbathe and relax.
The beach is located 20 km northeast of Puerto Ayora town and to reach it you have to take a taxi and then walk a short path to the beach.
View the full blog post here: EL GARRAPATERO BEACH IN SANTA CRUZ
1. Tortuga Bay
Tortuga Bay beach is the best place to go snorkeling in Santa Cruz. It is for me the most beautiful beach that I’ve visited in the Galapagos islands. Its name comes from this being the place where many turtles come and lay their eggs on the beach. This white-sanded paradise is home to many marine iguanas and baby reef sharks.
Here you can surf, sunbathe, kayak and for sure relax. It is located roughly 3 km southwest of Puerto Ayora town on Santa Cruz island. Tortuga Bay consists of two beaches, the longest one, with waves called Playa Brava (Brave beach), and a smaller and quieter one without waves called Playa Mansa (Tame beach).
View the full blog post here: TORTUGA BAY BEACH IN SANTA CRUZ
Make sure you have travel insurance! With Heymondo, get coverage for medical emergencies, delays, theft, cancellations, and lost luggage. Enjoy 24/7 worldwide assistance and a handy online medical chat service. As a reader of The Portuguese Traveler, you get a special 5% discount. Get your Heymondo insurance here.
The Best Beaches in Santa Cruz
Where to Stay
Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos has a variety of accommodation options to choose from, and we’ve narrowed down the top three choices for you.
For the ultimate luxury getaway, Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel offers a range of amenities, including an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and hot tub. Hotel Acacia is a comfortable and serene environment to unwind in the heart of Puerto Ayora, with lush gardens, a shared lounge, and a terrace. And Suites Hermosas offers two fully furnished apartments with breathtaking views and fully equipped kitchens.
To learn more about these options and other accommodation choices, check out the full article:
All The Articles About The Galapagos
San Cristobal Island – The easternmost island of the Galapagos, the “Isla Bonita”
Santa Cruz Island – The island with the best tourism infrastructure.
Isabela Island – The most adventurous and less explored island of the main three.
