Lure of the Galapagos

Source: Home & Away Magazine

It's no surprise the Galapagos Islands is a top destination on many travelers’ bucket lists. Full of rugged beauty and extraordinary wildlife, both in and out of the sea, the Galapagos is one of the most unique places on the planet and served as inspiration for Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.
 

The Islands

Located 620 miles west of Ecuador’s main land, the Galapagos is an archipelago composed of 19 islands— 13 major (with five inhabited) and six minor — and numerous smaller inlets, each boasting a distinct landscape ranging from black, barren volcanic rocks to vibrant fields of green to white-sand beaches with jewel-toned waters.

In 1959, Ecuador registered all of Galapagos’ uninhabited areas as a national park, protecting 97 percent of the islands. In 1978, UNESCO designated the park as the first World Heritage Site. The Galapagos Marine Reserve received the same status 20 years later, protecting both land and sea.
 

The Wildlife

One of the main reasons for traveling to the Galapagos is for unforgettable, up-close interactions with some of the world’s rarest animals. Because the islands lack natural predators, the wildlife has little fear of humans. Visitors enjoy the chance to snorkel with sea lions and sea turtles, marvel at marine iguanas, admire the famous giant tortoises and observe colorful birds—including the blue-footed booby.

The islands are known as the home of anomalies such as the Galapagos penguin, the only wild penguin found north of the equator; the Galapagos marine iguana, the world’s only lizard with the ability to swim and forage in the sea; the Galapagos swallow-tailed gull, the only gull that feeds at night; and the only cormorant that evolved to such a large size that it’s lost the ability to fly. Half of the land species and one-fifth of the marine species are endemic, such as the red-footed booby, the carnivorous centipede, 21 reptile species and 41 fish species.

Darwin’s Theory

In 1835, British scientist and theorist Charles Darwin arrived in the Galapagos aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. He spent weeks examining and collecting plants, rocks and insects and most famously, studying the numerous species of finches that would help develop his theory of natural selection. He found the creatures were similar from island to island but adapted to the environment on each island. He noted it was possible to distinguish the specific island where a tortoise came from simply by the shape of its shell. Darwin compiled his findings into a paper, The Origin of Species, published in 1859. It changed the way we look at and understand the world.

Today, scientists continue to be inspired by Darwin’s research. The Charles Darwin Foundation and Research Station was established in 1959 on Santa Cruz Island for the purpose of bio-logical research and to promote environmental education for conservation. Visit darwinfoundation.org for more details.
 

When to Visit

There is no “best” time to explore the Galapagos. The islands’ position on the equator has blessed it with fortunate weather and 12 hours of daylight/12 hours of nighttime daily year-round. However, there are two main seasons visitors should consider before traveling. The cooler dry season ranges from June to December and consists of blue skies and midday showers; December through May, the warm wet season brings tropical weather with daily rain and sunshine.

The Galapagos is a place for nature lovers looking for unbelievable flora, the diverse species that call each island home and wildlife encounters like they’ve never experienced.