Laguna de las Ninfas
Juan Montalvo s/n, Puerto Ayora, Equador
In the south of Santa Cruz Island, Laguna las Ninfas is a peaceful body of water home to sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays. It’s surrounded by mangroves and encircled by a wooden boardwalk that lets you wander around its perimeter in search of Galapagos wildlife.
The basics
While you might not spot as much marine life from above the surface, Laguna las Ninfas is still a fantastic place to learn about the ecosystems of the Galapagos’ mangroves, home to a wealth of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Some Santa Cruz island tours stop at the seawater lagoon before continuing to highlights such as the Galapagos Frontier Reserve, where you can see free-roaming giant tortoises and explore lava tunnels created millions of years ago.
Things to know before you go
Information panels explaining more about the flora and fauna of the lagoon are in Spanish and English.
You can’t swim or kayak in the lagoon, it’s purely for distant observation.
Don’t touch or get too close to the animals: The general rule on Galapagos is to maintain a distance of 6 feet (2 meters).
How to get there
Laguna las Ninfas is in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, the second largest of the Galapagos Islands. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Puerto Ayora jetty, where boats to and from Isla Isabella and San Cristobal depart in the morning and afternoon.
When to get there
Laguna las Ninfas is open from early morning until early evening. It’s best to visit in the morning before the day trip crowds arrive, as the peace and quiet will increase your chance of spotting animals. Visit the Galapagos from December to May for the best weather and the calmest sea conditions.
Discover Playa Tortuga
Just a 10-minute drive from Laguna las Ninfas, you’ll stumble upon the unspoiled paradise of Tortuga Bay. The white sand, turquoise water, and black lava rock formations create photogenic contrasts, and the wave breaks on the Playa Brava section of the beach create excellent conditions for surfing.
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