Charles Darwin Station
Quick Facts
- Location
- Ecuador
- Category
- Sightseeing
- Duration
- About 1.5–2.5 hours
- Opening Hours
- Usually daily ~07:30–17:00 (seasonal)
- Ticket Price
- Adult: Free · Free entry (donations); reach Galápagos first
- Address
- Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador
- Coordinates
- -0.7419, -90.3038
Introduction
The Charles Darwin Research Station lies in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in Ecuador's Galápagos archipelago, founded in 1959 as the core institution for the islands' ecological research and conservation. It is famed for its giant tortoise breeding and repatriation programme — visitors see hatchlings and adult subspecies from different islands up close, grasping the 'evolutionary island's' biological puzzles. The station also holds a museum and herbarium explaining the geology, species and Darwin's theory of natural selection. As the scientific gateway to any Galápagos trip, it lets travellers, amid awe at the giants, read the fragility and worth of this 'living laboratory of evolution.'
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Ticket Information
| Adult | Free |
|---|
Free entry (donations); reach Galápagos first
💡 Tips
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Charles Darwin Station?
Usually daily ~07:30–17:00 (seasonal)
How much is the admission for Charles Darwin Station?
Adult: Free; Free entry (donations); reach Galápagos first
Any practical tips for visiting Charles Darwin Station?
Free but donate ok. View tortoises, don't touch.
How long should I spend at Charles Darwin Station?
A typical visit takes About 1.5–2.5 hours.
