Fausto Llerena breeding center — Attraction in Parroquia Bella Vista

We chose not to do the tour as felt $10 per person was alot to pay for a crowded tour. We visited the Charles Darwin exhibition and beaches along the road which we enjoyed.

We turned left following the map at the end of the road and ended up in the tortoise area, there were NO SIGNS to say no access without a guide anywhere. We were then stopped by a guide while reading the exhibit who told us we had to leave and could not give us an explanation as to why we had been able to access this area given there had been no signs or gates. He explained the reason you have to pay is because people have gone into the pens, unsure why this would warrant needing a guide for $10.

As with some other areas on the Galapagos, it seems as if this has been set up to be free, then a cost added more recently. We have paid $120 each just to access the islands, additional charges, which aren't explained/advertised, are...

The mandatory tour was introduced as a financial measure so that a small group of tour agencies & associated guides can recover from income loss due to the pandemic. Same for Las Grietas. Now there is an ongoing debate as locals want the free access back, but these tourist agencies lobby against. It is not acceptable to limit access to an educational resource and taking a tour should be a choice - not an obligation - to ensure quality of service as well. If you choose to take the tour, know that absolutely none of your 10 USD goes to the breeding centre itself or any conservation activities (as many people think based on the reviews). All your money goes to the...

Worthy $10 fee for hour+ tour with English or Spanish-speaking guide. Our guide, Jose, had been working with tortoises all his life and had a superb knowledge of the different species, the issues with restoration, DNA analysis, and the history that led to the need for tortoise protection and restoration. We thoroughly enjoyed his presentation and explanations. The tour begins about a ten minute walk from town at the end of Darwin Avenue. Afterward we swam at Playa de la Estación, which was filled with fish, plovers, marine iguanas, Sally crabs, and local...