Before visiting Puerto Ayora in the Galápagos, I did some research on what to do on the island. I quickly wrote down the name of a Galápagos tortoise sanctuary before visiting: El Chato. I was excited to go, and quickly realized how much more incredible this reserve actually was! Here’s why you NEED to visit El Chato in Puerto Ayora, and why it is by far the coolest Galápagos tortoise sanctuary.
All About El Chato Galápagos Tortoise Sanctuary
El Chato is a 12-acre protected area outside of Puerto Ayora with hundreds of giant tortoises roaming around. Once tortoises are old and large enough to not become prey, they are moved from smaller sanctuaries to this massive reserve. There, they enjoy the life of luxury: feasting in the lush green pastures and cooling off in large, muddy pools of water. You will also see an abundance of birds in the area.
Three tortoises living their best life!
El Chato is not the only tortoise reserve around Puerto Ayora, but it’s the only one with one other special ecological area to explore: lava tunnels! You won’t want to miss seeing layer upon layer of the hardened lava that created the islands so long ago.
How to Get to El Chato
You will need to hire a taxi or guide to get to El Chato from Puerto Ayora, as it is not easy to walk to from the city. Taxis are generally inexpensive in the area, but guides will vary. We chose to simply hire a taxi and paid him to wait for us while we explored the reserve.
Admission to El Chato costs $3USD per visitor and includes access to the Galápagos tortoise sanctuary, the lava tunnels, and a cup of delicious Ecuador coffee. There is also a small museum to explore on-site.
Fun Facts About the Galápagos Giant Tortoise
Chilling with the tortoises at El Chato
- How big do Galápagos tortoises get?
Depending on the species, Galápagos tortoises can weigh up to 920lb (417kg) but are usually in the 500lb (227kg) range. They can grow to over 6ft (2m) in diameter. - How many species of Galápagos tortoises are there?
There once were 14-15 different subspecies of tortoises on the islands, but now there are 12. - How old do Galápagos tortoises get to be?
Galápagos tortoises live to be well over 100 years old in the wild with the oldest captive tortoise living to be 175 years old. - Are they endangered?
All species of Galápagos tortoises are classified as “threatened”, although conservation efforts have dramatically increased their numbers from only 3,000 in the 1970s to over 19,000 today. However, there were more than 250,000 individual tortoises on the islands in the 16th century. - How can I help?
You can help the conservation efforts of the Galápagos tortoises in a number of ways! The high taxes and visa costs to enter the islands helps fund conservation efforts, as well as donations and educating others. You can learn more about the tortoise conservation efforts and research and donate here.
What to Know Before Visiting El Chato
If you can, pack and bring rain boots or shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. The trails are dirt paths that often become muddy from rain and the turtles themselves. There’s also always the chance of accidentally stepping in tortoise poop. *Gasp!*
Closed-toed shoes are a must when going into the lava tunnels. The steps down are a bit old and creaky, and the tunnels themselves are often filled with rocks. The lava tunnels are not accessible if you have trouble walking down fairly steep steps.
As with most other destinations on the Galápagos Islands, credit and debit cards are not accepted at El Chato. Make sure to have enough cash on hand for your entrance fee, your driver, and anything you may want at the gift shop.
The Galápagos also has very strict ecological rules to keep their wildlife and plant life safe from visitors. Be sure to read up on the rules before visiting!
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