The Galapagos Islands

Alternative Name: Archipielago de Colón Total Land Area: 7,880 km²

 

Must-See Galapagos Islands

Charles Darwin stumbled upon the Galapagos Islands 169 years ago. He must have been surprised when a 400-pound tortoise plodded by, or when a dragon-like iguana stared at him from a rock. The constant seismic activity that formed the islands, combined with their isolation from the world, has been the incubator for this archipelago's rare and unusual animal life. Discover Darwin's treasure: a diversity of life that is found nowhere else. From the Galapagos Islands, consider extending your stay to mainland Ecuador, home of a beautiful and gentle people.

Animals Everywhere Close & Safe

There is simply no better place on Earth than the Galapagos for you (adults and kids of all ages) to get so close to so many species of animals safely in the wild. When we say close we mean there is nothing between you and the creatures you are watching as you walk along beaches, marked trails or snorkel in bays. You literally have to watch your step so as not to trip over some exotic creature, and often have to make way as animals demand the right of way. Here are some typical experiences enjoyed daily in the islands:

Information About  Each Island		Isabela
Rábida	North Seymour	Santa Cruz
Santa Fe	Santiago	South Plaza
Genovesa	San Cristobal	Española
Floreana	Bartolomé	Fernandina

You step onto a sandy shore to a welcoming committee of sea lion pups intent on greeting your toes.
You track down a giant ET-like tortoise in the lush green highlands.
An unconcerned land iguana watches you pass as he waits for a prickly pear to drop from a cactus for dinner.
Green sea turtles & eagle rays glide just beneath the transparent surface of a mangrove lagoon just a few feet from your raft.
Dolphins play in the bow wake of your island-hopping yacht.
A band of marine iguanas rest atop one another in a large heap, looking like a nursery for Godzilla's children.
A pair of waved albatross duel with their beaks in a mating ritual.
A young sea lion almost touches your snorkeling mask with its nose, as colorful king angel fish, parrot fish and Harlequin wrasse swim nearby.
Tiny Galapagos penguins hop from rock to rock before darting into the water like miniature torpedoes.
Blue-footed boobies show off their feet to potential mates on one side of the trail, while Magnificent frigate birds try and outdo them in the branches on the other side of the path by inflating their large scarlet throat sacks.