Darwin's Living Laboratory in the Pacific
The Galapagos Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 kilometres west of mainland Ecuador, known for wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Made up of 13 main islands and many smaller islets, they were the first place in the world to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1978. Charles Darwin visited in 1835, and the observations he made of finches, tortoises and mockingbirds helped shape his theory of evolution by natural selection.
What astonishes visitors is how close the wildlife comes. Sea lions doze on the jetties, marine iguanas bask on black lava, blue-footed boobies perform courtship dances, and giant tortoises amble through highland pastures on Santa Cruz. Snorkelling brings encounters with penguins, sea turtles and sometimes hammerhead sharks. The islands' remoteness and protection mean that animals show little fear of people, giving photographers and families alike an extraordinary experience.
Santa Cruz, Isabela and Island-Hopping by Sea
There are two classic ways to explore. Small expedition ships follow itineraries around the archipelago, with naturalist guides leading landings on islands such as Española, Genovesa and Fernandina. Land-based stays, centred on Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabela, combine boutique hotels with day trips by boat. Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz, has the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to a breeding programme for giant tortoises, while Isabela's volcanoes and flamingo lagoons create dramatic walking.
Highlights include the Bartolome lava landscape with its view of Pinnacle Rock, the white sands of Tortuga Bay, Gardner Bay on Española and snorkelling at Kicker Rock off San Cristobal. A tourist board or cruise operator can promote this variety to wildlife enthusiasts, families and photographers. Many travellers pair the islands with Colombia, or with the Andes and Amazon on the mainland, and some extend to Rio de Janeiro for a wider South American journey.
Read the full The Galápagos Islands guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitGalapagosIslands.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.