- Email address verified
- Email address verified
About this trip
The Giant Tortoise Experience by Galapagos Outdoors is the most iconic tour in Santa Cruz. This must-do experience offers a unique blend of natural wonders, educational insights and personal encounters with iconic species. Guided by the experience of our certified Galapagos Naturalist Guide, you will:
+ Visit the stunning Los Gemelos sink holes and hike the magical Scalesia Cloud forest
+ Meet the most iconic Galapagos species at the Giant Tortoise Reserve
+ Travel through thousands of years of intense volcanic activity in an impressive Lava Tube
ONLY two Tour Operation Schedules (3 1/2 hour-tour)
+ 08h00 am
+ 02h00 pm
ADD on | Giant Tortoise Breeding Center
Admire baby tortoises raised in the Giant Tortoise breeding program and pay tribute to Lonesome George, the iconic tortoise from Pinta.
ADD on | Transfer from Baltra Airport
Let us assist you for a better connection once flying to Galapagos. Get straight into your Giant Tortoise Tour
Your Tortoise Itinerary
Total duration of the tour: 3 hours 30 minutes
Pick-up point
- The Giant Tortoise Experience begins with a warm welcome from your certified Galapagos Naturalist Guide.
- During the private air conditioned transfer, immerse yourself in the enchanted Galapagos ecosystem and learn about the captivating history and geology of the archipelago.
Los Gemelos & Scalesia forest
- Discover Los Gemelos twin sink holes, the most impressive sink holes in The Galapagos Islands. Hike along this scenic 1-mile loop trail and observe these amazing volcanic formations that make Santa Cruz so special.
- Walk through the magical Scalesia Cloud Forest, an endemic humid environment where local plants, giant tortoises and birds thrive. Take opportunities to spot and photograph the iconic Darwin’s finches.
Giant Tortoise Reserve
- Continue to the Giant Tortoise Reserve and meet the largest living tortoises in the world and the most iconic species of Galapagos! Gain exclusive insights into their habits and ecology, and take incredible pictures with hundreds of giant tortoises wandering around in their pristine natural habitat.
Lava Tubes
- Be ready for an impressive underground discovery following the footsteps of Charles Darwin. Experience Galapagos inside-out by stepping into stunning Lava Tubes. Appreciate how lava flows have carved and sculpted the most remarkable structures and shapes over thousands of years.
End point
- Your Giant Tortoise Experience terminates at the original pick-up point.
What’s included
- Tortoise Entrance FeesVisiting Giant Tortoise Sanctuary
- GuideCertified Galapagos Naturalist Guide | ENG + ESP Guiding
- Rubber bootsWhen rainy and muddy its important to wear the right gear !
- TransportationPuerto Ayora To / From Giant Tortoise Reserve
What’s not included
- Tipping | GratuitiesYour guide and drivers will appreciate when rewarding them :)
- Extra drinks
Available Packages
Available options
Get exclusive insights on the groundbreaking conservation work led by hundreds of scientists to protect giant tortoises, and learn how to identify different types of tortoises by their unique shell shapes.
Admire the adorable baby tortoises that are raised and protected in the Giant Tortoise breeding program before their release into the wild.
Pay tribute to Lonesome George, the iconic tortoise from Pinta, and learn about his life and
Take a picture with Charles Darwin to fully immerse yourself in this experience.”
If you are just flying to Galapagos | Baltra Airport (GPS) the same day of the tour. Let us assist you for a better connection.
Upon your arrival, your guide will pick you up to transfer you to Santa Cruz Island and board on our Giant Tortoise Tour transportation.
Then your tour will start as plan in the description finishing when transfering to your Hotel in Puerto Ayora / Santa Cruz in the activities.
All Fees are covered when selecting this additional option.
Please make sure you provide us with all details regarding your flight to Seymour Airport
Itinerary
Your guide will pick you up from our meeting point | 1835 Coffee Lab | Galapagos Coffee Roasters in Puerto Ayora for an epicurean exploration in Santa Cruz Highlands.
During the bus ride leaded by an experienced Galapagos Naturalist Guide ENG + ESP learn about history, geology and ecosystems in the islands ! After a 30 minute drive stop at Los Gemelos & Scalesia Forest to start hiking in a 1-mile loop trail to observe this amazing volcanic formations - Sink holes. Many chances to observe some of the iconic species of Darwin's finches, doves and mockingbirds.
Back into the bus, continue to the Giant Tortoise Reserve to see in the nature the most iconic Galapagos organism - Giant Tortoises ! Explore the area with you guide that will carefully explain about their habits and ecology ... while you have the chance to take incredible pictures in this natural environment.
Be ready for the last stop and your underground discovery - Get in to a Lava Tube where the Galapagos shows it real origins and let you understand what Charles Darwin came to see - unique lava flows that carved the rock building up amazing structures and shapes !
- Los Gemelos and hike in the Cloud forest - Sink holes
- Giant Tortoise Reserve - Animals wandering all around a semi wild ecosystem
- Underground Lava Tube walk
Duration: 3.5 hour Tour | Level: Moderate