The Charles Darwin Research Station, founded in 1959, is operated by the international Charles Darwin Foundation aimed to preserve of ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands.
The main biological research station is located in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island , with satellite offices on Isabela and San Cristóbal islands.
A visit to the Charles Darwin Station is one of the highlights of the holiday on Galapagos.
Surrounded by endemic giant Opuntia Cactus the station allows to meet the history of local fauna and flora , including giant tortoises and land iguanas.
The representatives of both species are kept in special corrals, named respectively Corrales de Tortugas and Corral de Iguanas Terrestres.
At the Tortoises corrals visitors can spot the giant tortoises (Elephantopus Geochelone) from Española Island, and the last survivor of Pinta - Lonsome George.
The small tortoises are breed in Centro de Crianza until they have shells hardened, to be placed finally on the islands they came from.
tourists can see the graphics of all species of giant tortoises at Casona Exhibition Center, and watch the interesting videos at Van Straelen Visitors Center.
The typical visit to the station takes appr. two hours.