Giant Tortoises - The "Mascots" of Galapagos!

If the Galapagos Islands had a mascot, it would be its famed giant tortoises. In fact, the word galápago is an Old Spanish word for saddle, referring to the shape of some of the giant tortoises’ shells. Living over 150 years, the sizes and shapes of the tortoises vary from island to island. During International Expeditions' Galapagos cruises, guests spend a day on Santa Cruz among these gentle giants - a chance to stand steps away from tortoises in the wild and learn about efforts to conserve the species while at the Charles Darwin Research Station.