La Galapaguera sits in the eastern highlands of San Cristóbal, about 30km from town. Getting there requires a taxi or a tour — the road is unpaved for part of the route and the drive takes around 45 minutes. Most day tours to Punta Pitt include a stop here on the way back, making it a natural addition to a full east-coast day.
The tortoises are remarkable up close. Adults can weigh 250kg and live past 150 years; the ones at La Galapaguera are accustomed to visitors and move through the vegetation with a slow authority that makes everything else seem hurried. The breeding area holds juveniles of various ages, which gives a useful sense of how quickly — or rather how slowly — these animals grow.