Galapagos giant tortoises in Chato reserve.

Trip to El Chato Reserve 2026

El Chato Reserve is located in the upper part of Santa Cruz Island. Take a day tour to this beautiful place filled with giant tortoises that walk free through the fields. In addition, you can visit and enter the lava tunnels.

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Trip Details:

Departure Time: 09:00 am / 11:00 am / 14:00 pm.
From: Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora.
Activities: 100% hike.
Duration: 3 hours.
Route: 30 minutes.
Car capacity: 4 people.

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Tour Includes:

✔ Transfer to and from the hotel.
✔ Visit to Lava Tunnels.
✔ Visit to Los Gemelos.
✔ Tickets to the El Chato reserve.

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Tour does NOT include:

• Soft drinks.
• Tips.
• Private guide.
• Lunch.

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Price: $135

Private taxi - 1 or 2 people.

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El Chato Reserve tour itinerary

Upon arrival at El Chato Reserve, the ranch staff will wait for you to try on the rubber boots that are necessary to walk on the muddy terrain.

Giant Tortoises in El Chato reserve.
Giant Tortoises in El Chato reserve.

Galapagos tortoises can weigh up to 550 pounds and measure almost 5 feet (1.5 m). Usually, they are found resting under trees or taking mud baths. Don’t forget to turn off the flash to take photos and keep a distance of at least 6.5 feet (2 m). You can also observe black-necked stilts, finches and many guava trees – their fruits are a delight for tortoises.

Galapagos Giant Tortoises.
Galapagos Giant Tortoises.
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A visit to the lava tunnels

Accompanied by the guide, you will enter the lava tunnels and get to know how they came to be and the different formations inside them. The main point of the tour to El Chato Reserve is seeing the giant tortoises of Galapagos walk free in a natural environment.

Giant Tortoise
Pinzon
Galapagos duck
Lava Tunnel
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Other Tours from the islands:

The Tunnels, Isabela Island.
Sierra Negra volcano.
Kayaking in Tintoreras islet.

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