The giant tortoise is perhaps the most iconic animal of the Galapagos islands, as well as the beast that gives the archipelago its name (galapago means “tortoise” in Spanish).
It’s easy to experience (and photograph) the slow-moving, long-living reptiles at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island or various places in the highlands of that same island where the tortoises roam freely between the national park, private farms and tortoise reserves.
Every Enchanted Expeditions cruise through the Galapagos includes at least one tortoise reserve stop during the voyage so passengers can have an up-close experience with these gentle giants.
For instance, the “Fernandina” itineraries aboard the motor yachts MV Beluga and MV Cachalote Explorer feature visits to the Darwin Station, a giant tortoise breeding station at Puerto Villamil and free-roaming tortoises at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island.
