It’s quite curious (and somehow quintessentially Galapagos) that of all the bizarre, unique creatures on the archipelago, one of the least “curious”—the mockingbird— would be the one that would send Darwin on his evolutionary spin to change scientific thought forever. It wasn’t the “antediluvian” land iguanas or the “monstrous” marine iguanas. It wasn’t even the […]
If our solar system boasts Mars, the red planet, then Rábida is the Galapagos’s red island: a short-but-very-sweet Galapagos safari to savor. It’s an incandescent world with deep-red beaches, the result of the presence of large amounts of iron in the island’s volcanic lava and eroded sand. Rábida is so strange in colour and feel […]
The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the largest animals on the planet as they migrate from all around the world to feed and give birth to their young. From the larger baleen whale species to smaller toothed whale species, Galapagos provides the perfect conditions for these beautiful giants. Due to their ability to […]
A visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora The Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island, was inaugurated in 1964 as a base for scientists to carry out their research projects and develop policies that the Galapagos National Park could implement in order to preserve and protect the […]
You know your Galapagos tour is blessed when you come across flamingos! It doesn’t always happen — as with most nature experiences, you never know what you’ll see (although, as we’ve mentioned before, Galapagos tours tend to be pretty consistent in terms of wildlife viewing experiences). Flamingos can still be fairly common on brackish-water lagoons, […]
The island of San Cristóbal is one of the oldest in the Galapagos archipelago. Somewhat down-at-heel in comparison to Puerto Ayora — the true Galapagos travel hub — San Cristóbal has long led a laid-back existence… that is, ever since a man named Cobos, who ruled the island with the iron fist of a […]
Since their discovery in 1535, the Galapagos Islands were visited by many sailors, merchants and pirates. Each drew up maps of what they believed the Islands looked like, contributing to knowledge about the area and its weird and wonderful animals. 1535 – The discovery of the Galapagos islands The Galapagos Islands were first documented by […]
Luxury is often boxed and packaged and sold as prodigious comfort delivered in expensive and lavish ways, with over the top service and flamboyant sometimes gratuitous gestures. But is that really appropriate in the Galapagos? Is luxury in the Galapagos an oxymoron? Does it have substance, and more importantly a place where you can experience […]
Reasons to visit Santiago Island Located to the northwest of Santa Cruz, many cruise ships include visiting Santiago Island on their itineraries. It’s not as common an island to visit on day trips from Santa Cruz. But no matter how you visit, you should definitely try to include it on your list of islands to […]
Where in the world are all the boobies…? Well, half of them are in the Galápagos Islands. Out of the six booby species in the world, three nest here in the archipelago. Where do boobies get their name? The bizarre name may come from the Spanish, from the word “bobo” which means dumb. They say […]
What differentiates the seas of the temperate northern hemisphere from those of the tropics? One of the first differences that comes to my mind are the presence of frigatebirds on your Galapagos tour. Like Pterodactyls soaring ominously-yet-gallantly in characteristic silhouette, high, high in the sky; their profiles, which can be experienced mainly over pantropical oceans, […]
Galapagos Joins the International Effort to Reduce Plastic Waste Earlier this year, Ecuadorian officials banned single-use plastic on the Galapagos Islands making the wildlife hotspot one of the most conservation-forward places on the planet. The archipelago joins Kenya, Zimbabwe and just over a dozen more countries and cities to prohibit plastic straws, single-use plastic bags, […]
Darwin and Iguanas Darwin was no fan of lizards. On his visit to the Galapagos, he famously called marine iguanas “imps of darkness” and wasn’t particularly flattering about land iguanas, which he described as “ugly animals, of a yellowish orange beneath, and of a brownish-red color above: from their low facial angle they have […]
Prepare for your Galapagos trip with some of the many fantastic guide books written by passionate experts: volumes that help you to identify the wildlife, understand how the islands were formed, and how best to navigate them. But beyond the history and science, these strange volcanic landscapes have proved fertile ground for remarkable […]
Sea Lions on Santa Fe Stepping over sea lions isn’t exactly your everyday outing. In Santa Fe, the landing will most likely begin on a beach so full of sea lions you’ll feel like you’re intruding… until you suddenly notice that they don’t care… So why would you…? After a while spent filling your […]
Genovesa Island and The Red-Footed Booby We arrive at Prince Philip’s Steps, in one of Galapagos’ northernmost islands. The name honors the Prince’s two visits to here in 1965 and 1981. We begin our (steep) climb up a set of natural rock formations that serve as a spectacular staircase, taking us to the top […]
The Friendly Finch They are small and cute, for sure, but they usually don’t leave us dumbfounded at first sight. Everyone will get to see at least one, if not several Darwin’s finches during a Galapagos vacation, as many of these little birds approach visitors to dine or lunch by their side or at […]
Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Santa Cruz is an exciting island. A whole bunch of things to see and experience, spectacular beaches, beautiful walks, great roaming around at the port, wildlife and nature galore. At Galapagos Safari Camp, we call it home. Lowlands of Santa Cruz Puerto Ayora Let’s start from the bottom […]
Galapagos travel has been linked to the giant tortoises that have roamed the islands since time immemorial. Apart from the brief visit by Spanish conquistador Tomás de Berlanga —it was he who hinted at calling the islands “Galápagos” in honor of the reptilian inhabitants —pirates and navigators, for centuries, made crucial, strategic stops here to […]
A Galapagos diving tour is a sensory overload. Just when you think you’ve seen the most incredible sight of your life, an ocean sunfish glides coolly by, shoving it off the top spot with heedless nonchalance. Because although the islands of the Galapagos are home to myriad exotic creatures, shriveled-winged birds and blackened beasts living […]
Galápagos Islands are born with nothing. Constant, relentless volcanic activity caused these islands in the wilds of the Pacific Ocean to rise up from the depths of the sea. For the first few months, at least, there is nothing on them but the dead remains of their underwater existence. The first creatures that venture here are birds, alighting maybe just to catch their breath after hours, maybe days, maybe even months, of living at sea.
People with some knowledge of birds know that cormorants are rather common. These aquatic birds are great flyers and good divers, found pretty much everywhere on Earth… There are dozens of species, found in and near fresh-water as well as open ocean and the shore. They are actually famous for their legendary fishing skills. Ancient […]
The Galapagos Giant Tortoise One of the most surreal experiences on arrival to your Galapagos Islands vacation is spotting shiny, rock-like mounds almost camouflaged against the lush green as you speed along the highway. These are not stones, but the shells of giant tortoises roaming in the landscapes they have called home for […]
Isabela is the largest of the Galapagos Islands, home to spectacular animals on land, including the recently discovered pink iguana of Wolf volcano. This has been one of science’s most exciting discoveries in recent years, a spectacular find, indeed, that, unfortunately, is not part of the Galapagos tourism circuit since the diminutive area in which […]
