Galapagos Islands

Sitting right atop the Equator, approximately 600 miles directly west of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands had no original inhabitants. They were discovered in 1535 by Tomas de Berlanga, the Spanish Bishop of Panama, when his ship drifted by the islands. Reportedly in the 17th and 18th centuries, ocean pirates used the islands as rendezvous points, as well as for fresh food and water. The Galapagos was finally annexed by Ecuador in 1832, and a decade later, a few small settlements were established on some of the islands.

The legendary Galapagos islands archipelago is almost surreal in our imaginations, with its otherworldly volcanic geological formations, stunning landscapes, turquoise water, and the main attraction- the incredible array of rare wildlife and plant species. With some of these species being endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world, scientists have been drawn to this location since Darwin first arrived in 1835 on the famed HMS Beagle, and is where he researched, observed, and eventually wrote his famous book On The Origin of Species.

Located about 600 miles off the Ecuadorian mainland, the 13 major islands have a unique ecosystem in that they are located on the equator but with cool ocean currents, creating an unusual combination for the area’s flora and fauna, including giant Galapagos tortoises, penguins, sea lions, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, Darwin’s finches, albatross, and endless others. Below are our top picks for islands not to miss, and they are all distinct from the other and each have different things to offer.