Top Things to do in Galapagos Islands
What to do and see in Galapagos Islands, Galapagos Islands: The Best Beaches
Abundant wildlife above and below the waves draws eco-tourists to Ecuador's Galapagos. Get up close on a stroll or in a Zodiac boat. Snorkel and dive with denizens of the deep, from sea lions to sea turtles at Santiago's Cousin's Rock. Hike by finches, flamingos and iguanas along the Darwin Trail. Admire Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela. As visitor numbers are limited within the islands' National Park, book your boat tour through a tour operator. Visit January through April for the best snorkeling.
Restaurants in Galapagos Islands
1. Punta Espinoza
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By 75steven - New Hartford, United States
What an incredible island. Lava fields, marine iguana, hawks, sally light footed crabs, and sea lions were everywhere. We just missed (3-4 days) an active lava flow event but so enjoyed our short visit to the youngest of all the islands. It's raw beauty and natural differences from the other islands added to our experience.
2. Playa El Manglecito
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Bobfatboy3
We stopped here for 2 hours on our tour to Kicker Rock. I am so glad that we did. The beauty of this beach will bring tears to your eyes.
3. Puerto Grande
4. Puerto Egas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Stephen7Continents - Ashbourne, United Kingdom
Puerto Egas was the location of the old salt mines, now long closed, though you'll see remains of the workers' houses. This is a wet landing by Zodiac boat onto a black lava sand beach. Take a change of shoes if you wish to do the walk (I recommend that you do). Training shoes will be OK. There is a marked loop path from the end of the beach, after the first 100' mostly flat and easy. You'll see lots of birds, including the Galápagos dove (blue ring around eyes). As you near the beach, there are many red crabs (see my photographs). If you are lucky, you'll also see sea lions on the rocks (again, see my photos). You can snorkel off the beach, and expect to see 000s of fish quite close to the back. We also saw a reef shark pass by. Please give me a "Helpful" vote if my little review has informed you.
5. Puerto Chino Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 324 reviews
Reviewed By CherieC72 - Sydney, Australia
My husband and I have recently returned from a trip to the Galapagos Islands. The day that we went China Beach on San Cristobal, it was spectacular. Blue sky, perfect small waves, fabulous water temperature and super white sand. It was gorgeous. Coming from Australia where we have amazing beaches, this certainly compared to them. Unfortunately we had no wildlife around on our day, but that didn't spoil it for us. From the car park, I think it is about a 10 - 15 minute walk to the beach along a path where you can see many different cactus. We LOVED it. The only negative for me, is that there is no shade on the beach. I am very fair and really need to try and stay out of the sun if and when possible. However, I did my best to stay protected and we both loved. Take plenty of water and snacks. Enjoy.
6. Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,398 reviews
Reviewed By carlosvelascoteran
We went to Tortuga Bay on 2/21/2020. Day was sunny, warm. We walked from Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay, which by itself is a nice experience, looking at trees, iguanas and birds. We then got to the area of Tortuga Bay, which by itself has 3 separate segments, Playa Brava, Playa Mansa, and a small lagoon formed by a reef protecting it from the Playa Brava. The experience of swimming around iguanas and small "tintoreras" (sharks) was unbelievable. Water was refreshing. Birds were majestic. We have visited many places in the world, this was one of the best we have seen, highlighted by the successful way in which nature has been protected by the Ecuadorian government.
7. La Loberia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 497 reviews
Reviewed By myom624 - Coquitlam, Canada
After about a 10-minute walk along the seaside trail from the entrance area was arriving at this crescent-shaped beach just with a "moderate length" of about 300 meters (or just about 200 meters of it in a crescent preceded by about 100 meters of a straight line) where unfolded in front of my eyes was an estimate of about 15 adult sea lions (& may be about the same number of tiny young ones) mostly on the sand but also some in the water, and yes that "amazing spectacle" (without exaggeration since it was really pretty much the "next-to-best" scene featured on my Galapagos tourist card which features a number of sea lions on the long Tortuga Bay beach on Santa Cruz which I found in reality was just with iguanas and no sea lions at all) was what made my "day trip" to this island "absolutely worthwhile" (and that despite a pretty limited time of only about 6 hours spent on the Island before returning to Santa Cruz); also quite enjoyable at this beach site apart from seeing the sea lions was the wide-open sea view (although this beach being nowhere in comparable length to the Tortuga Bay beach on Santa Cruz & the "long beach" on Isabela), and yes it's actually from the trail to it than from the beach itself I would say that the sea view is a "more mesmerizing" one (with also a "high ridge" at some distance seen past the water). Leaving Santa Cruz at about 6 45 am on the boat LP Andy II (a round trip ticket of about 70 US$ which you can just get on like the day before from the ticket office near the pier on the "west end" of Ave. Charles Darwin) for about a 2.5-hour ride with my arrival time shortly after 9 am at the boat dock of this island, it was also pretty easy to find a taxi on the waterfront street for just a 5-to-10-minute ride to this beach site (actually only after breakfast at a 2-storied restaurant just across the street from the boat dock). And with only somewhat over an hour spent at this site (won't need much more at this relatively small beach unless you plan to swim), I walked about 40 minutes back to the town's waterfront passing by: this island's airport (which is right alongside the "solitary road" leading from this site shortly after leaving), the nice "street art scenes" (featuring some Galapagos animals & such) along a street section, the big fish statue (a marlin or such with a long snout) at a small roundabout where nearby is also a playground with a big "bronze sea lion", and the sizeable "name sign" of this island (a beautiful one if you look closely with each letter kind of "artistically designed") which is displayed right on the waterfront. And yes, back on the waterfront with still about 2 hours to spend before the "return boat" at 3 pm, it was a nice time spent watching the boats in the water & the sea lions on shore (including those among the rocks around the boat dock where actually I saw just about the same number of them as had been seen at this beach site).
8. El Garrapatero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 691 reviews
Reviewed By cesarmantillaand2018 - Quito, Ecuador
Accesible through paved road and pathway (rode a bike from Puerto Ayora). Top notch kayak and snorkeling equipment rental . Kayaking was great, through calm bay, to three other nearby beaches. Saw lots of sea turtles, marine iguanas, small bullsharks and lots of birds.
9. Cerro Brujo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By Bessie134 - Vancouver Island, Canada
You can't go wrong with this beach! Soft white powdery sand, beautiful landscape, and seclusion. You will need a boat to get here, and there are no facilities. Sea lions galore that are happy to play around you in the water.
10. Playa Punta Carola
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Beach with snorkeling, wildlife, lighthouse
Reviewed By J5694RXleer
Lots of sea lions everywhere! We stopped here after a short hike up to Cerro Tijeretas. We knew San Cristobal had quite a few sea lions, but this place had the most sea lions of the places we saw. Lots of fun watching them, and at one point two bull sea lions got territorial with each other and were fighting. The bull sea lions can get aggressive if they feel their territory is being infringed upon, so it pays to be aware of your surroundings and walk away if one of them gets testy. Took lots of photos and wished we had brought some snorkel gear to get in the water!
