Surf spot

Tortuga Bay

Forecast conditions and map view for Tortuga Bay in Ecuador, Galapagos Islands. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Ecuador, Galapagos Islands
Coordinates: -0.7634, -90.3329

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	1.1	1	1	1	1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7
Wave direction	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE
Wave period (s)	5.6	5.7	5.8	6	5.8	5.9	6	6	6.1	6	6.2	5.8	5.6	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.7	6	6.1	6.3	6.5	5.8	5.8	5.6	6	5.9	6	6	6	7.7	7.5	5.7	5.9	6	6.2	8.3	8.2	8.1	8.1	8.1	8.1	8	8	8.1	8.2	7.8	6	6	6.1	6.3	6.5	8.2	8.2	8.1	8.2	8.1
Wave energy (kJ)	73	70	70	74	74	78	81	81	84	82	82	73	79	92	94	94	94	95	100	107	108	116	119	109	104	107	100	99	95	142	136	79	78	78	74	131	129	126	119	116	110	104	98	93	95	91	56	54	55	53	55	77	77	72	69	68
Wind speed (km/h)	12.6	11.3	11.8	13.9	15	13.3	12.2	8.9	6.5	10.5	11.6	15.6	14.3	13.4	11	12.8	13.2	13.5	12.8	16.9	18.2	18.1	15.9	13.7	13	13.3	14.9	16.1	18.4	17.7	14.8	13	15.1	13.3	14.8	15.3	15.1	15.6	13.3	13	10.1	11.2	11.4	14.5	15.5	15.6	12.6	10.5	7.7	10.2	10.7	15.1	16	14.2	13.1	10.4
Wind direction	SEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore

Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos, Ecuador is one of the archipelago’s most beautiful beach breaks. It’s known less for heavy power and more for its scenic setting, clean water, and fun, playful surf.

Surf description

Wave type: Mostly a beach break with sand-bottom peaks.
Best for: Beginners to intermediate surfers, though conditions can offer fun rides for more experienced surfers when the swell lines up.
Wave quality: Usually small to moderate, with clean, organized waves on the right swell.
Conditions: Best when there’s a southerly or southwesterly swell and lighter winds. Early mornings often provide the cleanest conditions.
Challenges: Can be shallow in spots and is strongly affected by tides and shifting sandbars.

Environment

The spot sits in a protected natural area, so it’s famous for its white sand, turquoise water, and abundant wildlife rather than a hardcore surf scene.
You may see marine iguanas, pelicans, sea lions, and turtles nearby.

Access

Tortuga Bay is reached by a walk from Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. It’s a scenic hike, and the beach itself is a destination even without surf.

Overall vibe

Tortuga Bay is a beautiful, mellow surf destination—great for surfers who want a session in one of the most stunning places on earth, rather than a high-performance wave.