Santa Cruz Island is in the center of the Galapagos Islands. It has the largest human settlement of the province with about 20,000 people. The National Park and the headquarters of the Charles Darwin Foundation operate here. Their task is to protect wildlife through science and patrol.

The highlands are lush, humid, and highly productive, especially for agriculture.

Here we find Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural state. We can observe the recovery process through captive breeding and rearing.