El Chato Tortoise Reserve

The vast majority of the Galápagos Islands are restricted national park lands, so while tortoise populations have begun to recover to pre-discovery levels, you won’t get to see the animals very often. Most likely, your tortoise experience will take place at the El Chato Tortoise Reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The reserve is a large jungle compound where tortoises congregate to mate.

It’s difficult to see them at first, but once you’ve spotted one of the boulder-like animals, you’ll come to find them in numbers so massive it’s a wonder they were ever endangered. Tortoises gather in clusters of four to five, with additional groups located every 50 to 100 feet. They’re tame enough, and they still have the reflex to withdraw into their shells at the sight of danger. Sitting on the ground next to one of these animals as it gradually come out of its shell will be a highlight of any trip.