Holiday in the Galápagos Islands

What makes Galápagos Islands special as a destination?

The Galápagos Islands are the last paradise on Earth, where animals have no fear of humans — a living laboratory of evolution that inspired Charles Darwin in 1835 to develop his groundbreaking theory of natural selection. The archipelago consists of 13 main islands and over 100 small islets, isolated in the Pacific, 1,000 kilometers west of the Ecuadorian coast, and is home to a unique wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. The Galápagos giant tortoises (weighing up to 250 kg and living over 100 years) are the landmarks of the archipelago: At the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, you can observe them up close. In the highlands of the island, they roam freely across farmland and misty forests. Each island has (or had) its own subspecies — these very differences led Darwin to his theory of evolution. The marine iguanas on Fernandina and Isabela are the only sea lizards in the world: These prehistoric-looking reptiles dive into cold Pacific waters for algae and then warm themselves in the sun on black lava rocks in groups of hundreds. Blue-footed boobies perform their comical courtship dance by alternately raising their bright blue feet, while sea lions lounge next to tourists on the beach. Snorkeling and diving in the Galápagos is among the best in the world: At Kicker Rock (León Dormido), you dive between hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and mantas through a split volcanic rock. Devil’s Crown off Floreana is a sunken volcanic crater with an incredible underwater ecosystem. The Galápagos experience comes in two varieties: multi-day cruises (4-15 days, the best way to reach the remote islands) or self-guided island hopping with day tours from Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, or Isabela.