Nymphs Lagoon

In Santa Cruz, Galapagos

Nymphs Lagoon in Santa Cruz

The Nymphs Lagoon in Santa Cruz is a beautiful lagoon full of mangroves that you can visit just a short walk from Puerto Ayora’s city center and is a great stop on your way to Tortuga Bay beach.

You don’t have to pay for the entrance and is great for a family escape or romantic picnic.

Laguna de Las Ninfas en Santa Cruz island

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Nymphs Lagoon: General Details

To reach the Nymphs Lagoon or Laguna de Las Ninfas, you can either go by taxi, bike or by foot. I advise you to go by foot as it’s almost literally in the middle of the city.  

  • Distance to the main pier: 450 meters
  • Walking time: Around 6 minutes
  • Opening hours: 7:30 h – 17:30 h
Important: It’s not permitted to swim, fish, kayak or disturb the animals around the lagoon. There’s a sign at the entrance. More information on the official Santa Cruz website here.

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Nymphs Lagoon in Santa Cruz, Galapagos
Laguna de Las Ninfas Location
Nymphs Lagoon Location

How To Get to The Nymphs Lagoon?

To get to the Nymphs Lagoon just leave the main pier/port and walk straight to Avenida Baltra. At the first crossroads (100m), turn left onto Thomas de Berlanga street and then take the first right to Moisés Brito street. Once you reach Hostal Germania, turn left, into Juan Montalvo street, walk 85m and you’re at the lagoon.

Entrance to the Lagoon
Entrance to the Nymphs Lagoon

What to Bring to The Nymphs Lagoon?

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My Experience at The Nymphs Lagoon

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the best thing to do is to coordinate the Nymphs Lagoon with the Tortuga Bay beach as it stays on the way to it and it’s absolutely gorgeous. 

In my case, I had just a couple of hours left after scuba diving in Gordon’s Rock and seeing dozens of hammerhead sharks. I met some friends I had previously traveled with in San Cristobal Island, Maayan and Tal both from Israel, and of we went to the lagoon. 

As it was already late around 4 pm we only had time to visit the lagoon and couldn’t reach the Tortuga Bay beach that day so we just had something to eat and went exploring. 

Laguna de Las Ninfas
Nymphs Lagoon
Maayan and Tal at the Lagoon in Santa Cruz, Galápagos
Maayan and Tal at the Nymphs Lagoon
Wooden path to the lagoon
Wooden path to the Nymphs Lagoon

There we stood almost alone watching the beautiful nature. We saw some fish and some birds if I recall a grey heron, and that was it.

A beautiful short place to visit if you don’t have a lot of time or if you’re on your way for example to Tortuga Bay beach

Panoramic of the Lagoon in Santa Cruz, Galápagos
Panoramic of the Nymphs Lagoon

What about you, have you already been to the Nymphs Lagoon in Santa Cruz?  Leave me a comment down here if you did and after you’ve been, your impression.

Thanks for reading through and I hope you have fun exploring the lagoon!

2 thoughts on “Nymphs Lagoon in Santa Cruz”

  1. Olá João
    Estou a adorar o seu blog 😀
    Muito detalhado e descritivo… Parece que estamos lá 😍

    Gostava de ter a sua opinião sobre o seguinte assunto:
    Vou estar em Puerto Ayora só duas tardes (antes e depois de liveabord) que gostava de aproveitar para ver animais ali perto 😀.
    O Charles Darwin station já está incluído, não é nessas duas tardes.
    Se fosse o João onde ia neste curto período de tempo?

    O meu agradecimento pela sua partilha no blog 😀😀😀

    1. Olá Susana, muito obrigado pelo feedback!
      Ora então, para duas tardes sugeria Tortuga Bay passando em caminho pela Nymphs Lagoon/Laguna de Las Ninfas.
      Na Tortuga Bay, mais concretamente na Playa Mansa, que é a segunda praia e onde se pode nadar, costuma ter bebés de tubarão de recife a nadar perto da areia e pelicanos.
      A caminho da Playa Mansa também se podem ver muitas iguanas marinhas na areia e até a nadar numa pequena piscina que se forma entre a Playa Brava e a Playa Mansa.
      Na outra tarde que tem disponível podia fazer o Highlands Tour/Tour Parte Alta onde, no final vêm mais tartarugas gigantes. Esse tour é mais para descobrir a natureza da ilha. Ou fazer o Bay Tour que vos leva a Las Grietas a fazer snorkel mas começa com uma sessão de snorkel e um breve avistamento de aves junto ao porto de Puerto Ayora. Para mais informações sobre os tours e praias está tudo aqui no blog. Espero ter ajudado boa viagem! 😀

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