Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise & Lava Tubes Galapagos Tour

You walk among hundreds of giant tortoises in their natural habitat, then descend into lava tubes carved over thousands of years.

The Giant Tortoise Experience is a guided tour in Santa Cruz's highlands that combines three distinct ecosystems in one morning or afternoon. You hike Los Gemelos twin sink holes and the Scalesia Cloud Forest with a certified Galapagos naturalist, then spend time at El Chato Tortoise Reserve watching the largest living tortoises on Earth, and finish underground in a lava tube. The tour runs 3 to 4 hours and departs at 8 AM or 2 PM in English or Spanish, with air-conditioned transport and refreshments included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Galapagos Highlands and Wildlife

• Meet certified Galapagos Naturalist Guide
• Transfer to Los Gemelos twin sink holes
• Hike 1-mile loop at Los Gemelos
• Walk through Scalesia Cloud Forest
• Visit Giant Tortoise Reserve
• Observe and photograph giant tortoises
• Explore Lava Tubes underground
• Return to original pick-up point

The experience

Santa Cruz's highlands hold three landscapes most visitors miss. The tour starts with a 1-mile loop hike around Los Gemelos, the twin sink holes that are the most impressive volcanic formations on the island. You walk the rim and see how the ground simply opened. From there, the Scalesia Cloud Forest is an entirely different world: humid, endemic, and the place where Darwin's finches actually live. A certified naturalist guide explains what you're seeing as you move through each zone, and the air-conditioned vehicle between stops means you're not exhausted before you reach the tortoises.

El Chato Tortoise Reserve is where the tour's centerpiece happens. Hundreds of giant tortoises roam in open pasture, not behind barriers or in enclosures. You walk among them, photograph them at close range, and watch them move and feed. The guide shares specifics about their habits and ecology that make the encounter concrete rather than just a photo opportunity. After the reserve, you step into a lava tube, an underground passage carved by lava flows over thousands of years. The scale and the geological story (how the archipelago was built) become physical rather than abstract.

The tour includes entrance fees, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and coffee or tea. Departures run twice daily, at 8 AM and 2 PM, so you can fit it into a morning or afternoon without losing the rest of your day. Uneven surfaces and volcanic rock mean this tour is not suitable for travelers with walking disabilities or those using wheelchairs, and it's not recommended for people with spinal injuries or serious heart conditions. Confirmation arrives at booking unless you book within 7 days, in which case you'll hear back within 48 hours.

What’s included

• Entrance fee to El Chato Tortoise Reserve and the highlands sites.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport with pickup and drop-off at your meeting point.
• coffee and/or tea during the tour.
• certified Galapagos naturalist guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 14:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Galapagos Outdoors CL

Is this one for you?This is a shared guided tour with a certified naturalist, so you're not navigating or driving yourself. The guide handles the route, timing and interpretation at each stop. It suits travelers who want the story behind what they're seeing and prefer not to arrange their own transport in unfamiliar terrain. The fixed schedule and included vehicle mean you can book it and show up.

Traveler reviews

4.91★★★★★★★★★★

47 verified traveler reviews

5 ★43

4 ★4

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What exactly are Los Gemelos and why are they worth hiking?

Los Gemelos are twin sink holes formed by volcanic collapse: the most impressive ones in the Galapagos. The 1-mile loop trail lets you walk the rim and see how the ground opened, and the formations show the intense volcanic activity that built Santa Cruz.

Can I actually get close to the giant tortoises at El Chato Reserve?

Yes. El Chato is an open-pasture reserve where hundreds of giant tortoises roam freely. You walk among them and photograph them at close range while they feed and move naturally.

What is the Scalesia Cloud Forest and what will I see there?

The Scalesia Cloud Forest is an endemic humid environment found only in the highlands. It's where Darwin's finches live and where you'll spot local plants and giant tortoises thriving in a completely different climate from the lowlands.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The main hike is a 1-mile loop around Los Gemelos. You'll also walk through the Scalesia Cloud Forest and around the tortoise reserve. The surfaces are uneven volcanic rock and terrain, so sturdy footwear is essential.

What time should I choose? The 8 AM or 2 PM departure?

Both departures run the same route and take 3 to 4 hours. Choose 8 AM if you want the morning to explore the rest of Santa Cruz afterward, or 2 PM if you prefer a later start.