South & Central America

Galapagos Islands

Lying 1000 kilometres (600 miles) off Ecuador's Pacific Coast, the Galapagos Islands emerged approximately five million years ago as a result of violent volcanic action. As the young islands were cooling off some two million years later, a few species gradually started to arrive. They were live organisms riding on ‘rafts of vegetation’ from the shores of Central and South America. Unusual climatic events, like flooding, can take lots of vegetation rafts to the ocean. Therefore, it is pure chance that allowed such a raft to eventually reach the Galapagos. These early immigrants had to adapt to a peculiar new environment, and simply evolved -- slowly -- in a different direction from their continental ancestors. And, wonders of nature, they developed into species unique to the islands, with features not seen in their past ancestors.

The Galapagos Islands archipelago consists of 13 major islands, 6 smaller ones, and scores of islets that are all part of Ecuador's National Park system.

In 1835, the naturalist Charles Darwin visited the islands and discovered this ‘living laboratory’ which inspired his writings on the theory of evolution. Many of the animals on the Galapagos Islands have developed into different species from their continental relatives, and because they have never experienced man as a predator, they show no fear of humans. In fact, when Darwin published his book 'The Origin Of The Species', the nineteenth-century thinkers confirmed long held suspicions that species were not immutable, and praised the archipelago as a living laboratory, which has become the greatest observatory of the process of evolution.

The best way to visit the islands is to join a cruise, most of which last for 7 nights, although it is possible to join a shorter cruise of 3 or 4 nights on selected boats.  There is a wide variety of boats, ranging from the small motor yachts with just a few cabins to larger boats with up to 46 cabins.  The cruises consist of a variety of activities led by extremely knowledgeable naturalist guides, including on-board lectures, hikes on the various islands and snorkelling as well as relaxing aboard your luxury yacht.

It is also possible to stay at one of the hotels, most of which are located on Santa Cruz Island, and explore the other islands on daily cruises arranged by the hotels.

Our recommended cruise ships and hotels are:

Santa Cruz (46 cabins)
Eclipse (27 cabins)

Isabella II (20 cabins)
La Pinta (20 cabins)
Evolution (16 cabins)
Eric, Flamingo & Letty (10 cabins each)

Grace & Lammer Law (8 cabins)

Mistral (6 cabins)
Finch Bay Eco Hotel
Royal Palm Hotel