A 30 minute walk from Puerto Ayora, on a dreamlike trail, will take you into the magic of Tortuga Bay. Tortuga Bay is a beautiful beach, frequently visited by tourists who stay in Puerto Ayora, the tourist center of the Galapagos Archipelago. In Tortuga Bay there are a variety of activities you can enjoy. There are a couple of spots that are good for snorkeling, and you can also do any kind of beach sport such as Frisbee, playing with a beach ball, running, etc... But the main attraction is surfing. Most of the year Tortuga Bay offers spectacular sets of 2 and 3 meter waves that fascinate surfers. You can visit Tortuga Bay in a morning or an afternoon--it is a half day trip.

The approach to Tortuga Bay is Galapagos National Park land, with lava rock and a variety of plants and animals to see. The National Park Service has built a narrow concrete walking trail. The natural scenery makes this short 30-minute walk an enchanting experience.

The strong currents that occur in Tortuga Bay make most of the area not recommended for swimming. At the far right end of the beach you will find Playa Mansa (Calm Beach). It is approximately 100 metres long, a small beach with no waves or currents. It's almost like a pond. Here you can swim, snorkel, etc...

At Playa Mansa you can sit in the shade of the mangrove trees growing close to the beach. You can easily spot marine turtles, manta rays and lots of different kinds of fish. Some days you can even spot turtles from the beach when they lift their heads out of the water to breathe. Some days however, the water will be very cloudy and you won't be able to see anything. Some tours schedule visits to Tortuga Bay, arriving by land (walking), or by sea in small boats (glass bottom boats). You can get there by yourself on foot. If you are taking a tour that doesn't include Tortuga Bay, you might want to stay an extra day in Puerto Ayora to visit this beautiful piece of paradise that you will never forget. We suggest you start your trip to Tortuga Bay at 8:30am. Don't forget to take water! It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the centre of town to the start of the National Park trail.

Anybody in town can point you in the right direction. You can also take a taxi for 60 cents. If you go by bicycle (you can rent one in town), you will find a place to park your bike and secure it at the entrance of the trail. Bicycles are not allowed on the walking trail, but you can take a baby cart if you have small children.

The National Park Service opens the trail gate at 5:30am for jogging enthusiasts and closes it at 6:30pm. Entrance is free. You are not allowed to camp or stay overnight at the beach. You cannot stay on the beach after 6:30pm. If you don't sign out by 7 pm, you will be considered lost.

If you follow these simple conservation rules you'll have a great time at Tortuga Bay.