Charles Darwin Research Station Reviews

Worth a visit to understand more about the conservation efforts and a bit of history of the island plus see some wildlife! Closes for lunch for a few hours so go early morning or in the afternoon

It's fine but commercial and we did not come to the Galapagos for commercialism so if you wish to read more than on the Web or say you been here fine but otherwise much more natural things to do. Everything is expensive in galapagos and yet we see very little signs on re investment in the town sad as where is all the tourist income going?

A very beautiful place, it is located very close to the center, you can walk very easily, it has no cost, you can observe a lot of flora and fauna; It stands out for the turtle species found there and mainly because you can see the body of the extinct George Solitaire. In addition, it has a gallery where paintings, animal skeletons and more objects are exhibited.

Free and great place to see turtles and iguanas. Very relaxing.

A spectacular place, I think the words are missing to describe what you can see here, I have the great luck that my girlfriend Gilda Gallardo, I work a couple of years in this season ... Together with her, visit this herbarium three times, although The biggest attraction are obviously "the giant tortoises of Galapagos". There I learned that there are several species.
All very beautiful, lots of information and the center is very friendly with tourists ... A must see in Santa Cruz.

From Japan:)
Very interesting place. You can see many kinds of turtles for free.

I want to see the lonely George language waiting in line, so that the door does not open too frequently, which affects the low temperature. It is a very interesting research institute. You can put a commemorative badge at the door, so it is very important to bring a commemorative book or postcard in advance. In addition, the surrounding price is more expensive, mainly clothes, starting from a postcard, you can swipe the card, the minimum credit card amount is 20 knives.

It s a free tourist sight apart from the research center with lots of outdoor exhibitions, tortoise, iguanas, and two beaches. You can easily walk from the main town and spend 1.5-2 hrs here. Look at the center map posted .

In the Charles Darwin you can get to know the whole history of the flora and fauna of Ecuador, they have a transport from the entrance to the Foundation in which you only cancel with the collaboration they wish to give. Do not leave without stamping your passport and finish your journey. Here you can send postcards to your loved ones by post and leave your experience and suggestions in writing

We visited as part of the shore excursion from our ship, so interpretation was not a problem. The enclosures looked clean and adequate. The larger turtles are kept for breeding stock. They have been very successful in reintroducing tortoises tio the wild.

It was interesting to find out how Charles Darwin began his research into evolution. Here you can see first hand his will to enspire the new generation to continue his efforts and preserve the Galapagos for years to come. It has flaura, fauna and giant tortoises as well as descriptive signs in English and Spanish. It was an amazing place to visit and I highly recommend it. Don't forget to bring your passport to get a Charles Darwin Galapagos stamp.

I visited for the first time last December, as a scientists pretty excited. As a happy Ecuadorian but the only thing that seemed bad to me was that a person who works or worked (I don't know) in one of the bars where I went to buy a coffee, was vulgar and rude when talking to another person who was there about a foreign girl arriving at the station. To her surprise the girl spoke Spanish. We complained to him and the man denied it and continued speaking with an out of place vocabulary.
More attention to those little details that destroy everything that has been achieved so far. Educate your workers and know how to respect visitors even more to women.

Very interesting and informative. You have the opportunity to learn about the fauna of the Galapagos. As well as seeing a variety of large Galapagos tortoise.

A must see in Galapagos, you will learn a lot about the history of the islands and it's flora and fauna. You will get to know the effort and hard work it takes to preserve the islands and it's world famous inhabitants the giant turtles! Fun and educational

Nice quiet place to visit in Galapagos! Beautiful landscapes and science

A very nice, quiet place, it offers a lot of knowledge about the species that inhabit the multiple Islands.

They force you to buy a guide to enter. That was unexpected but it was a shame to just go back having walked so far, so I decided to visit the playa near by. I talked to the authority that I will only go to the beach so let me pass. The authority told me not to lie and just buy the guide, speaking of some tourists having killed baby turtles. That was very offensive and racist. I told the authority to follow me and check me visiting the playa if they cannot believe my words. They gave me a nasty look and made me memorize and speak out all the national park rules to pass by. That was a nonsense because all the other tourists were passing by just fine. I felt targeted. Worst experience ever. Never ever would recommend anyone to visit such a horrible place.

A walk that should not be missed by anyone very educational and teaches us to preserve nature and share with it,
do not disturb your surroundings

Excellent place that tries to take care of its species

It's free but they really push you down to pay 10$ for guider. It's not ok if you pay 100$ just for entry to Galapagos and 20$ fee for...i don't know? They charge money on every side and even here- you can't enter for free because they make you feel bad that you re not support animals. Museum- Not very much to see. 3 stars only for historical side of this place and work that they put for turtle's.

It is very incredible to know the flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands; where you can see the turtles in captivity

A place where you learn a lot about the evolution of species, a lot of information. And it is a nice place with restaurants. A place where you meet people from all over the world. Lots of endemic vegetation and qualified guides

Very cool but there are pokemons elsewhere or just here

Its a turtle zoo, they are held captive in horrible conditions, no water available, very dirty and smelly pens. When you ask about closed areas with chains and locks, they say they are working on the area, we saw no working areas at all! Ecuador doesnt deserve the Galapagos.

This is a great way to spend a part day in Puerto Ayora. There is no entry fee and you can do it on your own. If you aren t doing a tour, there is an option to hire a guide for about $10 USD per person - there will be a table set up outside of the loop. But the walk is easy and there is signage to tell you about where you are and what you are looking at. There are marine iguanas lounging in the road. This is a great spot to learn about the giant tortoise breeding program and there a lot of tortoises to see. There are also gazebo type structures with benches and educational materials along the loop. The well preserved body of the famous giant tortoise lonesome George is on display in a temperature controlled room. Once you complete the loop there is an exhibition center will more information on the Galapagos and whale skeleton and a gift shop.

Great information and displays about the plants and wildlife on the Galapagos islands, and their efforts to preserve it.

A place where you can learn about the history of the Island, and enjoy the beach of Puerto Ayora. A very nice place that you can visit as many times as you want during your stay

The entire Station is a place full of knowledge. Self-guided trails will give you historical information, island data, descriptions of flora and fauna.

Currently, the body of the giant tortoise "George" can be photographed.

We read that there was no fee, but when arrived were told to pay $10. We gave them a $20 and received no change, so it must have been $10 each. We were given a very slow tour with way too much information and little shade. At one point when we were not 100% attentive the guide asked if she was boring us which made us feel uncomfortable. We did not see others with guides so asked why not and were told they were all locals which was obviously a lie as many were Caucasian. This made us feel like we had been scammed. Great cause, shady setup.

The Charles Darwin station gives a greater understanding of the evolution of species, and thus also the incidence of human beings on nature, which causes the extinction of species, as well as the work carried out by scientists and volunteers to preserve the nature conservation, as is the case of the giant tortoises of the galapagos, iguanas, finches, among other species, in the station the famous galapago of the lonely George is embalmed, the last of its kind, the route is around of 1 km. Unfortunately, at present, due to the pandemic, it is being requested that the entrance be done with a tourist guide that the cost is around $ 40, which for a local tourist is onerous, despite the fact that entry to the islands is already paid to travel, Instead of contributing to local tourism, this would have a counterproductive effect.

It is an incredible place. I like very much to see the species of my beautiful Ecuador. I will keep it in my memory forever

Not the most interesting place you'll go in the Galapagos. The turtles and iguanas are great but the actual information side of things is lacking. The interpretation center on San Cristobal is a much better visit if you need to choose between the two. Lonesome George will be sorely missed here as many people would have come to see him exclusively.

A very interesting place, the guide's explanation is very important during the tour. You can walk since the path is not very long, and you can see from baby turtles to large turtles. It really is a very attractive place. In addition you can see the lonely George.

A truly amazing place where they do beyond amazing work. The Tortoise are beautiful.

It is a very nice place, with good attention, and with a lot of history

Ideal to observe turtles and their conservation. You can also see the George turtle preserved under special conditions.

I visited the Charles Darwin Research Station on the Galapagos Island of Puerto Ayora, as an exchange student from UNC-Wilmington to Ecuador in 1996. Both the Galapagos and Ecuador mainland were an awesome experience.

It is simply spectacular nature is the most beautiful thing that God has given us to enjoy and admire its wonders

Amazing place! You must visit it... And stay almost a half day.

While touring this place I personally heard the sound of giant tortoises "producing more tortoises. " It sounds like old people rubbing leather armchairs together. It is nature! They are doing important conservation work! A magical experience ;) 10/10. They have a lot of other reptiles on display, the little baby tortoises in boxes, and a lot of fascinating information. You can see the home of the late Lonesome George, and the whole place is very nice to walk around.

Just go and enjoy this educational tour, since really all the guides of the area know and know very well of the place It is a place full of different species of turtles, I think it is a mandatory stop to know more about the origin of the islands and also the entrance to this site is free.

Great place with lots of information around the Galapagos and Darwin.

Cool place to walk around but can get a little lost. You can see giant tortoises, marine iguanas and land iguanas. Everything is free which a great.

Amazing, bitter sweet.
The Charles Darwin Research station is a really important place here in the Galapagos, I visited a while back and saw the last long neck saddle back tortoise "Lonesome George".
He was the last of his kind due to some human and non human factors.
Unfortunately they could not breed him and eventually he died.

The galapagos is an amazing place, we must protect it and air the Charles Darwin station however we can.

Without a doubt the best place I met my first love I knew everything beautiful that I had and then ... if you do not know where to go as there will be waiting for you with open arms

A place that is worth visiting and admiring all the fight for the conservation of the giant tortoises recommended

Nice place to visit. Not too much to see, but worth checking out if you have some free time. The saddleback turtles and land iguanas are there if you haven't caught them on your trip yet.

The MUST place to visit in this island. Small museum insides to your discovery in historical details of the foundation and the island. Also, come to meet the oldest Galapagos s tortoise and its descendant. A lot if land iguanas and the sea ones. Be careful on your step. Excellent place.

Loved to see the turtles and other expeciments although there are very few guides

Super cool place to see baby turtles and learn from history and conservation. Safety pin!

Visit the center where the turtles of the different islands are kept very interesting

We were keen to go to the centre. Whilst the centre was good and informative, the entry was via the national park. Here we were informed that we had to get a guide. We were not permitted to enter until we paid $10 each. ($110 US that we had not planned for). If we went in by 2 or 3, no fee, but because they new we were together w had to pay.
We feel that $110 us for 1 hour guide time was a complete con. We had no opportunity to object as the local authorities were there.
We did enjoy the guide Anna the tour, but still felt very burnt.

If you are interested in learning about the evolution of the species, I recommend this place if you visit Santa Cruz.
It has bathrooms and wheelchair access but the road is tender.
Trails where you can find, turtle in the process of aging.
Museum and places where you will be taught personally.
Ideal to go on foot without a guide so that they are not rushing you tomato your time is necessary that you go with patience.
Recommended to visit the lonely jhors.
They do not allow to photograph it.

Admission is free. It is a walk of more or less 1 hour. The embalmed body of George is seen, the last tortoise of the Pinta Island. There are giant tortoises in captivity and explanation like an open field museum.

The hours of the administrative part and the museum itself is restricted, we did not do the tour with a guide, and still it is interesting.

It is necessary to maintain the area where the iguanas are, the conditions in which they are found are very precarious. Not only is the area of the turtles important, but also that of the iguanas.

Here you can learn a lot about the special flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands. The Charles Darwin Research Center does a lot to preserve them. The giant tortoises were almost extinct, but here the last specimens were successfully reproduced and released in the thousands, and can now be found again in the wild. But it is easier to see the giant tortoises here in one of the enclosures. Admission is free. You even get a stamp in your passport if you want.

Very well cared for, the guides are very well trained, you can see the legendary George and turtles in all sizes Nice place

Nice walking trail with informational stands, research buildings, station beach, and tortoise center access. Great for a free morning activity.

Here we are in the entomology section of the Charles Darwin station very interesting and valuable entomology collection.

Place to start learning about turtles and Darwin's work.

The pokemon's only come out in this area nothing more: / fucking google maps

It was extremely interesting to learn more about the efforts to preserve Galapagos unique fauna and flora. Everyone should definitely take a guided tour to learn more about their work!

Came here in October 2017 but only had about an hour to see the entire place until it closed. My friends and I ran quickly around the indoor museum/visitors center and also the outside to see the tortoises. It is an old place so it almost looks like a nicer zoo, but I understand that they seem to be using their money to actually help the individuals lives that are present in the center and also in the wild. Bring your passport because they can give you a stamp!

It offers you a walk of something like two hours. Free entrance.

The Charles Darwin Research Station is located in the south on the island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. The research station is to the east of Puerto Ayora.

The station is a symbol of conservation and is the home of the remains of Lonesome George, the last known species of the Pinta Island tortoise.

This museum has many exhibits relating to flora and fauna, however I would have liked more on Darwin's work on evolution as well.