Tortuga Bay, Laguna Las Ninfas

Beach, Surfing

By Karey Fuhs

One popular Puerto Ayora visitor site is Tortuga Bay, located at the end of a paved three-km trail southwest of town. Once you arrive at Tortuga Bay (a guide is not needed), you will encounter a long, white-sand beach and some pretty powerful waves offshore.

If you came to surf, stay and try your luck, but if you came to swim or relax on the beach, keep walking until the end of the beach, where there is a spit of secluded beachland (hopefully not filled with visitors) and a protected swimming area. Do not stay at the first beach; not only have numerous children and adults drowned in the hard-to-read waters, but the second beach area is much nicer. There you can rest alongside mangroves, dodge mockingbirds, watch pelicans, follow marine iguanas, or snorkel with sharks. Make sure you bring food, water, and sunscreen, because there are no facilities and very little shade.

Also on the southwest side of town is the Laguna Las Ninfas. This is a beautiful, refreshing place to swim (if you come when the little kids who usually frequent the swimming area are at school) or look for wildlife.