Overview

The Galapagos Islands is one of the most interesting and beautiful islands on earth. Galapagos Islands boast of a varied and diverse wildlife. The islands are situated in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America. This UNESCO world heritage site, noted for its spectacular wildlife, is in fact an archipelago consisting of numerous volcanic islands. The Galapagos archipelago consists of a total 19 islands, with 13 main islands and six incredibly small islands.

The Galapagos Islands are more popularly known as the birthplace of Charles Darwin's theories of evolution and natural selection. While Darwin did go to some of these islands, he did not visit all of them. He went to the Islands of Chatham, Charles, Albermarle, and James. It is said that Charles Darwin toured the islands in search of different wild life types. What he found amazed him and sparked the fire to pen his illustrious theory of evolution.

Spanish is the official language of the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands were annexed by Ecuador back in the year of 1832. All of the islands of the Galapagos Islands form a part of the National Park system in Ecuador. While it may not have the highest number of tourists, it is certainly one of the most well-known tourist attractions in the continent of South America. You can visit these islands to take in the breathtaking sights and wildlife.

Activities & Attractions

Those who are looking for an interesting vacation should definitely consider the Galapagos Islands. The largest island of the Galapagos Islands is Isabela, followed by Santa Cruz. A stay in merely just one of these islands will be an enriching experience. You can camp at the area and take in the beautiful scenery of the place while you enjoy the sumptuous local food. A wide range of land-based and water-based tours are available. You can enjoy adventure sports like kayaking, mountain biking, horse riding, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Some must-see attractions include the Sierra Negra Volcano, Darwin Trail, Darwin Island, and Cousin's Rock.

The islands also offer innumerable opportunities to explore the interesting and unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands. In fact many wildlife lovers who visit the islands yearn to catch a glimpse of the infamous Galapagos turtles that are unique to these islands. You can also take the Galapagos cruises and boat tours to explore the islands.

Lodging

Some options to stay in Santa Cruz Island include the Finch Bay Hotel, Red Mangrove Inn, and Hotel Silberstein. Most of the hotels in the area offer instant reservation facilities.

Transportation

There are every day flights to the Galapagos Islands from Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Flights from the mainland arrive at the island's two airports, namely Isla Baltra, north of Santa Cruz and Isla San Cristóbal. You can get around the islands by organized boat tours. If interested, you could also visit some of the islands independently. For travelling between islands, you can rely on ferries and small airlines.