Meet a 150-Year-Old Giant Tortoise in the Galapagos Highlands
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Santa Cruz, Ecuador
- 3 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
With so much to do in Santa Cruz, it can be overwhelming to organize everything on your own. Make one of your adventures completely stress-free with a 3-hour afternoon tour to three of the island's top sights. Along with your naturalist guide, visit the Los Gremelos volcanic formations, hike the Scalesia Cloud forest, and get cozy with local wildlife at the Giant Tortoise Wildlife Reserve. Finally, have your camera ready for a jaunt through a lava tube.
- Travel comfortably in air-conditioned transportation
- Get the personalized experience of a small group
- Enjoy free entrance to the Giant Tortoise Reserve
- This tour is available in English and Spanish, with two departures every day
What's Included
- Entrance fee - Entrance fee
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Marchena 90, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
Cressi Dive Shop | Galapagos Outdoors CL meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Los Gemelos
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Reserva El Chato
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Lava Tunnel
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 7 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Not infant seats available
- Not recommended for participants with heart complaints or other serious medical conditions
- Not service animal allowed
- Not stroller accesible
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Travelers can arrive on foot or taxi to our meeting point.
- Valid from the time of first use, for the duration selected.
- You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jill_W
This was an AMAZING tour! It was a very personal experience, just my husband, myself, a driver and Stephanie our guide. We saw "The Twins" and she gave us lots of information as well as information on the animals and the foliage. Then we moved on the the tortoises. The tortoises were spectacular! It was a half day tour which left time for other activities. I would highly recommend this tour.
Reviews
4.9
based on 45 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Ray_L, Jul 2026
Fantastic experience and a great guide and driver. A little unsure as to why it was so expensive but still excellent.
David_C, Mar 2026
In depth tour, lots of tortoise/botany/Galapagos history all mixed together. First tour of our trip and it was a great way to start off. Went early, beat most of the crowds. Astrid was an exceptional tour guide, highly recommend her to others.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for the review! We're thrilled that going early paid off for you—beating the crowds really makes the tortoise encounters feel that much more magical. Astrid is indeed an exceptional guide, and she'll be so happy to hear she helped start your trip on such a high note!
SUSAN_D, Jan 2026
The Turtle Experience was amazing. We were picked up at our VRBO. Astrid was an amazing guide. She was super knowledgable. The turtles were awesome.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed it. Astrid will be very happy to know her knowledge and guiding made such a positive impression
Maria_K, Oct 2025
We ended up having private experience. It was fantastic! I highly recommend Andres, it seems that he knows every plant and bird on the island. And of course, all about giant tortoises. We saw probably 50 of them. The tour also included visiting sinkholes and lava tubes and walking through a cloud forest. Great memories!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We’re really happy to hear you had such a fantastic experience. When our regular departures are fully booked, we always choose to upgrade our guests to a private guided experience whenever possible—our way of making sure you receive the best possible service and a more personal connection with the islands.
Gena_M, Jun 2025
It was ended up being just my husband and me, the driver, and the tour guide. We loved the tortoises, the lava tube, and the interesting things she told us.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the experience. It’s always a pleasure to create a more personal, intimate adventure. We’re so glad it made your day special
Andres
Jill_W, Jun 2025
This was an AMAZING tour! It was a very personal experience, just my husband, myself, a driver and Stephanie our guide. We saw "The Twins" and she gave us lots of information as well as information on the animals and the foliage. Then we moved on the the tortoises. The tortoises were spectacular! It was a half day tour which left time for other activities. I would highly recommend this tour.
Jacqueline_D, Jan 2025
Andres was fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable about human history, geology, flora, and fauna. He patiently answered all of our questions. A visit to El Chato is not to be missed... walking freely among tortoises and observing their natural behaviors is truly astounding!!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review. It was an honor to guide you and share insights into the rich human history, fascinating geology, and remarkable flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands. We are delighted that you found the experience at El Chato to be as extraordinary as I do. Observing the giant tortoises in their natural environment is indeed a unique and unforgettable opportunity. Your engagement and enthusiasm greatly enriched the experience, and I sincerely hope to have the privilege of welcoming you back to the Galapagos in the future.
Andres
Maggie_L, Sep 2024
What an awesome experience! Our guide Andrea was incredible. So knowledgeable and friendly. Would highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great experience, and I'll be sure to pass along your compliments to Andrea. It was our pleasure to guide you through the wonders of the Galapagos. We hope to see you again on your next adventure!
k8c899, Jul 2023
Astrid was great guiding our tour. She was very professional and informative. The tour group was just 5 tourists. We got to see the giant tortoises in their element. We also viewed the lava tunnels and magma craters. My only suggestion is to have clearer meeting point instructions. The meeting point of 845 Avenue Charles Darwin address given is of a Japanese restaurant that appeared to be closed and covered up. The meeting point info that was given was 1835 Coffee Lab. So there was a discrepancy between the address provided for the Meeting Point and Meeting Point Info. We came about 20 minutes early, as we usually do for Viator tours, but our guide showed up exactly at 8am. In any case, it worked out! Whew!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
We are glad you enjoyed your tour! Thanks for your recomendation, we will talk abou it and see how we can make it better, thanks.
Liz.
Marcia_J, May 2023
Had already been to a tortoise reserve but Sandra still managed to give new information and make it really interesting. The lava tubes were massive, beyond what you’d imagine. Definitely an afternoon well spent
Response from Host, May 2023
We areglad you enjoyed your tour! Thanks!
Liz.
Sophia_H, May 2023
Wonderful day despite the pouring rain. Our guide Sandra was fantastic! Highly recommend the tour and Sandra. Our driver was also first rate!
Response from Host, May 2023
Thanks Sophia so much for you comment!!
SANDEEP_B, May 2023
Nice short trip to see giant tortoises. We saw some great ones and it is amazing to see such ancient animals still sharing the planet earth with us.
Response from Host, May 2023
We areglad you enjoyed your tour! Thanks!
Liz.
Joe_H, Apr 2023
Perfect trip for me and the family. Our Guide was very informed and it was just what we needed after two previous long day trips.
Response from Host, Apr 2023
We glad you enjoy your tour, thanks for your review.
Alan_H, Feb 2023
Astrid was a wealth of knowledge in taking me to the designated spots on the tour. She was fluent in English and really brought the sites to life with in-depth explanations that were infused by the passion she had for her job. A real delight---ASTRID rocks!
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Hola Alan, thanks so much for your review! we glad you enjoyed your tour.
Emilio_G, Feb 2022
Carla was the perfect guide, she knew everything from the types of birds we saw to the layers of rock names in the lava tubes. I highly recommend this tour as we had private access to the lava tubes and the giant tortoise experience as well as private transportation. it was An amazing experience!
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Dear Emilio,
Thanks for enjoying our Giant Tortoise Experience !
Gahyi_V, Feb 2020
We did this tour in the afternoon after getting off a 5 night cruise around the Galapagos Islands. At first I was worried we won't see much new from our cruise, but was proven wrong. This tour was a wonderful mix of seeing Giant Tortoises in the wild, seeing the natural forest of Santa Cruz (which is very different from the smaller Islands we visited on the cruise), spotting a few birds and interesting geological formations of the inner parts of Santa Cruz Island. Most cruises won't go so far inside Santa Cruz, so this was perfect. Andres, our tour guide, was super knowledgeable, interesting and all around very helpful. He also took amazing photos for us.
FREDY_Z, Jul 2021
súper recomendable tour , nuestro guía espectacular ameno y sobre todo conocedor profundo de todo acerca de galapagos , este tour es perfecto para conocer lo más clave de santa cruz
From $175.00
per person-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Meet a 150-Year-Old Giant Tortoise in the Galapagos Highlands
45
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$175.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Santa Cruz, Ecuador
More attractions near Santa Cruz, Ecuador