Walk with Giant Galapagos Turtles Tour

Santa Rosa is 22 km or 13,7 miles from Puerto Ayora and 30 km or 18,6 miles from the Itabaca Channel. This was the first Ecuadorian village been established in Santa Cruz Island, most of the first families came from Tungurahua (a central province of Ecuador) after one of the strongest earthquakes in our history. Nowadays it is home for about 1,000 people, who work in cattle ranches, agriculture combine with tourist, since in this area we have about 5,000 giant tortoises (Chelonoidis portery) one of two endemic tortoises in this island. This animal can be observed inside private properties and public roars, since they are mostly vagrants, moving freely looking for food.  The numbers of tortoises depend on the season, normally they start walking down to the arid area at the end of February for nesting. However not all the tortoises go every year.

The Galapagos National Park Service allowed that local farmers can get an income with tourist that visit their land, as long they respect these wild animals, made the visitors to accomplish de GNP rules and keep under control introduced species of plants and animals in their properties. During this visit you can also walk through a lava tunnel, an impressive geological formation born on fire, about 1,5 million years ago. Don’t you worry about bats, even we do have two native species of them, none of these use lava caves as their home.

You should wear light pants, close shoes or at least socks (to wear the rubber booths) and to bring a rain jacket, insect spray and water protection for your cameras.