Charles Darwin Research Station — Attraction in Parroquia Puerto Ayora

It’s worth noting that while the Charles Darwin Research Center is free to enter, if you’d like to see the giant tortoises up close, there is a $10 fee per person and you must go with a guide. Fortunately, guides are easy to find as you begin the walk up, with several local operators offering their services. The guided visit is well worth it—we learned a great deal about the different tortoise species found on the various islands, how their unique shells and sizes have adapted to their environments, and the ongoing conservation projects to restore their populations. The Center also provides insight into the challenges of invasive species, habitat loss, and the careful breeding programs that help ensure these peaceful, long-living creatures will thrive for generations to come.

One of the most memorable parts of the visit is seeing Lonesome George, the most famous tortoise in the Galápagos. For decades, George was the last known individual of his subspecies from Pinta Island and became a worldwide symbol of conservation. Although he passed away in 2012, his remains are preserved and displayed at the Center, offering a powerful reminder of the fragility of island ecosystems and the importance of protecting them.

Beyond the tortoise enclosures, the Center’s surrounding beaches are fascinating in their own right. These coastal areas serve as important breeding grounds for marine iguanas, and depending on the season, you can spot them basking on the rocks or nesting in the sand. The beaches also attract a variety of seabirds, crabs, and lizards, making the walk itself a chance to encounter Galápagos wildlife up close. It’s both an educational and memorable stop, blending conservation with...

The Charles Darwin Research Station was founded in 1959 in partnership with UNESCO, and is open to the public. It’s dedicated to protecting and breeding Galapagos giant tortoises. The Station also conducts biological research to understand and protect the flora and fauna of Galapagos. We spotted groups of lizards sunning themselves on the grounds and rocks around the grounds. The Galapagos research center is free to visit. There is a $10 per person fee to accompany a nature guide and explore the grounds where the giant tortoises are hatched and live. One of the center’s goals is to breed and release tortoises back to the wild when they’re about 5 years old. Since the 1960’s, they’ve released more than 2,000 healthy tortoises on the Galapagos Island. The tortoise shells are painted with numbers. Hatchlings and young tortoises of different ages live in separate areas at the center. Their Natural History Interpretive Center features skeletons of a whale and dwarf sperm whale. Exhibits highlight achievements and challenges of their marine animal and tortoise research. There’s a sculpture and moving tribute to Lonesome George. He was the world’s last Pinta Giant tortoise when he died in 2012. We found a nice selection of Darwin Center t-shirts, books and souvenirs in their gift shop. All purchases support their foundation. There’s an outdoor cafe nearby to purchase cold drinks and light snacks. Look for sculptures of Darwin around the center for popular...

Not too bad for serving the purpose -- being informative and educational and family-friendly and kid-friendly. Recommend for a day that you don’t feel like doing much snorkeling/beach activities.

Great air-condioning (especially in the video room) -- very important especially on a hot day (it's humid and almost 30 deg Celsius even close to sunset).

Quite a lot of exhibits and videos about wildlife in Galapagos. Clean and spacious bathrooms. Got a small outdoor cafe.

While many reviews said it's quite run down, it seems in 2024 there's been some renovation done (at least to parts of it) to make it more appealing.

Without a guide (which comes at extra cost), it's free to walk around except the area to see the live turtoises and the famous Lonesome George exhibit. However, if you've got enough time on the island (instead of a daytripper from a cruise) and willing to spend a bit more for transport and entrance fees, I highly recommend visiting the highlands to see turtoises in the wild instead of here in semi-captivity.

The souvenir shop was fairly well-stocked and many products were one-of-the-kind that you couldn't find elsewhere in Santa Cruz -- with proceeds going to support the research (hopefully true) and many products locally made in Ecuador. Prices appeared slightly higher than other comparable products you found in souvenir shops, but it's kinda cool to have the logo of Charles Darwin...