Is Visiting The Charles Darwin Research Station Worth It?
The Charles Darwin Research Station is a scientific hub on the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz, run by the international Charles Darwin Foundation. It plays a major role in preserving the islands’ delicate ecosystem, doing vital research, and running conservation and repopulation projects to protect the unique wildlife here.
I visited the Research Center during a ferry stop in Santa Cruz and did not regret it!
However, not everyone finds it worth it to spend a few hours there. Let’s dive into the details of the Charles Darwin Research Station Tour and my experience in it for you to decide for yourself if it is worth stopping by!
What Is There to See at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz?
As a tourist, you can visit the center and see some quite cool things! This was an interesting and quick tour I did in the Galapagos, and I’d recommend it to check it out if you are in Santa Cruz and have 2 hours of free time.
Though the site is interesting, I do not think that it is worth changing itineraries or sacrificing other tours to fit in a visit to Charles Darwin Research Station, as there are better things to do in Santa Cruz (and the Galapagos in general).
There is a lot to do and see in the Charles Darwin Research Station, some of my favorites include:
A. Learn about and see baby tortoises: There’s a breeding center at the research station where you can check out baby tortoises from different species. It’s pretty cool to see them up close!
B. See giant tortoises: The tortoises here are pretty unique because they’re brought in from other islands in the Galapagos. They’re different from the ones you’ll see wandering around the highlands of Santa Cruz, and there are fewer of them too.
C. Learn about the fauna and flora in the Galapagos: As you wander through the research station, the naturalist guide will share some interesting facts about the local plants and birds. It’s a great way to learn about the nature around you.
D. See the skeleton of a giant Bryde’s whale: In the gift shop, I was (happily) surprised to find a whale’s skeleton. I highly recommend stopping there to take a look at this fun bonus sight!
Important to note: Although this center is named after Charles Darwin, the exhibits are not about him or the HMS Beagle expedition he went on. The main attraction of the Charles Research Station is the breeding of tortoises, and Darwin is almost not mentioned throughout the tour.
How to Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz?
The Research Station is incredibly easy to visit due as it does not require reservations and is centrally located in Puerto Ayora!
How Much Is The Charles Darwin Research Station Entrance Fee?
The only way to enter the Charles Darwin Foundation is by joining a group tour led by a local naturalist guide, which costs $10 per person.
There is no need to pre-book the tour, although many guides will try to persuade you to do so! By the campus entrance, you can purchase a spot and simply join the next tour.
The tour is commonly available in both English and Spanish.
How Do I Get to the Charles Darwin Research Station?
The Charles Darwin Research Station is only a 15-minute walk away from the main port in Puerto Ayora, and you can either walk there or grab a taxi for about $1.5.
My Experience Visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station
I quickly stopped by the Charles Darwin Research Station during the ferry layover in Santa Cruz while traveling from San Cristóbal to Isabela.
Booking a tour
I did not have a tour booked and simply headed to the tour agency by the entrance of the research station to request a spot on the next English-speaking tour.
Important to note: the tour is 10$ can only be paid in cash!
The tour would only start 20 minutes later, so I waited while enjoying the beautiful mosaics at Járdin Ceramica, which is located just by the Research Station’s entrance.
Walking to the exhibits and learning about the local plants
The exhibits are a ~10-minute walk from the Research Center’s entrance, and along the way, the naturalist guide points out to the local fauna and flora.
This was the perfect time for me to ask many questions about the giant cacti that puzzled me during my walk to Tortuga Bay.
Touring the Research Station
As we head towards the breeding center, there are a few spaces with a bit of interesting information about the wildlife in the Galapagos. The exhibits are quite simple and we walk through them relatively fast, but it is still a learning opportunity.
Pro tip: If you want to dive deeper into Galapagos history and geography, I recommend heading to the Interpretation Center in San Cristobal! The entrance to the center is free, and its size and content are way superior to what you’ll find in the Charles Darwin Research Center. There, you’ll also find amazing opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and snorkeling.
Visiting the turtle breeding center
After a few exhibits, we get to the area everyone is most excited about: the tortoise breeding center. This is a special place for me as it was the only spot in the Galapagos where I came across baby tortoises.
At the breeding center, we could see child tortoises of all ages, which gave me a pretty good idea of how fast they grow. It is incredible to see them so tiny and learn about their habits and growth trajectory!
The turtle sightings were not limited to baby tortoises; there were quite a few adult giant tortoises!
To make things extra special, these adult turtles are typically saddleback tortoises, which are known for having very long necks to grab food from trees. I got to see their giant necks in action and was beyond impressed.
These sightings are especially cool because many of the saddleback tortoises come from remote islands, and without the efforts of the Charles Darwin Research Station, we wouldn’t have the chance to see the species in Santa Cruz.
One downside to this tour is that we saw the tortoises very quickly and from very far away, which is a bit of a bummer, especially when compared to my tortoise encounters during the Santa Cruz Highlands Tour.
Visiting and learning about the Lonesome George
Of all the saddleback tortoises in the Research Station, Lonesome George is by far the most famous!
Lonesome George is quite special because he was the last tortoise from Pinta Island, as all the other members of his species were wiped out after decades of overexploitation by pirates and settlers.
He was brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station alive, and he was cared for over 40 years there until dying from natural causes in 2012. Sadly, his passing marked the extinction of his subspecies, C. n. abingdonii.
Today, Lonesome George’s body has been preserved through taxidermy and is on display at the research station.
Seeing Lonesome George in person was a very meaningful experience for me. Standing before the last of his kind made me reflect on the importance of preservation and the devastating impact our actions can have on the natural world.
It really drove home a concept we all know but often fail to fully grasp: many species will vanish within our lifetime, and we should do whatever we can to make this number as low as possible.
The Charles Darwin Research Station Gift Shop
After exploring the many sights on the Research Station, the gift shop is a nice place to grab tasteful souvenirs and support the preservation of the Galapagos… but that’s not all!
There, you can also get close to the skeleton of a Bryde’s whale, which makes the gift shop a fun stop even if you’re not looking for any souvenirs!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Charles Darwin Research Station
Do I Need a Guide to Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station?
Yes! You can only enter the Research Station with a certified naturalist guide. There is no need to book a tour in advance, as you can sign up for a tour at the entrance to the research station.
How Long to Spend at the Charles Darwin Research Station?
Budget a minimum of 1 hour to tour the Research Station if your goal is to simply see the baby turtles and Lonesome George.
If you’re very into the work done there, budget an extra hour to walk through the self-guided sections of the Research Station.
Is There a Restaurant at the Charles Darwin Research Station?
Just outside the gift shop, there is a food stand at the station where you can grab snacks!
What Can I Do Near the Charles Darwin Research Station?
If you are looking to kill time, there are a few fun things to do near the Research Station:
- Playa de La Estacion & La Ratonera: Very small beaches with lots of volcanic rock. There you might spot crabs and marine iguanas!
- Jardín Cerámica: Colorful mosaic garden in a spot right by the ocean. Jardín Cerámica is free to visit and a great place to hang out while waiting for your Charles Darwin Research Station tour to start.
The Wrapup: Is visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station worth it?
The Research Station managed by the Charles Darwin Foundation is a fun, quick, and interesting stop in Santa Cruz. There you can see a few fully grown giant turtles, many baby turtles, and the epic Lonesome George.
This was an interesting and quick tour I did in the Galapagos, and I’d recommend it to check it out if you are in Santa Cruz and have 2 hours of free time.
Though the site is interesting, I do not think that it is worth changing itineraries or sacrificing other tours to fit in a visit to Charles Darwin Research Station, as there are better things to do in Santa Cruz (like the Bartolome Island Day Tour).
