Galapagos Islands

Marine iguanas sneeze salt as they bask on lava rocks, the world's only seagoing lizards in a place that inspired humanity's greatest scientific revelation. Darwin's 'enchanted islands' float 600 miles from anywhere, volcanic peaks rising from the Pacific where evolution runs wild. Giant tortoises lumber past, some alive since Darwin's visit, carrying volcanic shells that can weigh 500 pounds. Each island tells its own evolutionary story - finches with beaks shaped by available seeds, cormorants that forgot how to fly, penguins at the equator. Hammerhead sharks school in underwater mountains while blue-footed boobies dance courtship rituals unchanged for millennia. The absence of predators created fearless wildlife that treats humans as curiosities rather than threats. Only 97% of land remains untouched, with visitor numbers capped and routes strictly controlled. Naturalist guides - many born on the islands - ensure every footstep follows marked trails. Research stations continue Darwin's work, saving species from extinction through captive breeding. The islands prove that strict protection works: wildlife populations thrive when humans tread lightly.

Water Features

Pacific Ocean, pristine beaches

Ecosystem

This destination features a mixed ecosystem ecosystem.