The spectacular Galapagos National Park is situated roughly 1000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador on the Santa Cruz Island of the Galapagos archipelago. The Park is often referred to as a ‘living museum’ owing to its phenomenal melting pot of species. The area inspired the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin and is considered to be a living laboratory where evolution is still in process. The park is home to a variety of animals and plants which do not exist anywhere else. These factors, along with the ongoing volcanic and seismic activity, has earned the park UNESCO status. Visitors can spot animals such as land iguanas, giant tortoises, a diversity of finches, and many other animal and plant species. Set at the confluence of three ocean currents, there is also an incredibly rich and abundant marine life offshore.
Rising dramatically from the crystalline waters of the Galápagos, Genovesa Island exudes a wild, otherworldly energy. Known as the “Bird Island,” it is a sanctuary for immense colonies of seabirds, including red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and Nazca and swallow-tailed gulls, whose cries echo across its rugged cliffs. Visitors can explore the island’s volcanic caldera on foot along winding trails that reveal dramatic cliffside vistas, or snorkel in sheltered coves teeming with tropical fish, rays, and curious sea lions. The scent of salty sea air mingles with the vibrant colours of nesting birds, creating an immersive sensory experience. Genovesa is an intimate encounter with raw, untamed nature, where every step and splash feels like discovery.
Resting approximately 25 km northeast of Santa Cruz Island, in the exquisite Galapagos archipelago, the elongated shield volcano of Santiago Island, also known as San Salvador Island or James Island, is dotted with Holocene pyroclastic cones. The island’s best site is undoubtedly Puerto Egas where you will find a long, lava shoreline where eroded rock formations are home to an impressive variety of wildlife including an abundance of marine iguanas and fur seals. While geology aficionados should head to Sullivan Bay to witness its black lava flow covered with lava bubbles and tree-trunk moulds, diving enthusiasts can enjoy the renowed dive site of Cousin's Rock, a triangular rock that rises about 10 m (33 ft) out of the water and is made up of many layers of volcanic rock. Don’t miss Espumilla Beach which is fringed by a spectacular palo santo forest that shelters nesting Galápagos green turtles.
This aptly named little island lies just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island and, as its name suggests, is shaped like a traditional Chinese Hat. The island has a single landing site on the northern white-sand, crescent shaped beach. From here visitors can follow a walking trail where they are likely to spot Galapagos penguins,Galapagos sea lions, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The trail leads to the western part of the island which features volcanic rubble, sharp outcroppings, and lava formations. Visitors to this otherworldly landscape are typically treated to the sight of marine iguanas wallowing in tidal pools while Galapagos hawks soar above their heads.
As one of the world’s foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing, this volcanic islet in the Galápagos Islands group makes an ideal stomping ground for avid nature enthusiasts. Charles Darwin was famously inspired to write his seminal work, ‘The Origin of Species’, after witnessing the veritable treasure trove of natural wonders exhibited on this extraordinary archipelago. Darwin was so intrigued by the unique landscapes, colourful rock formations and exotic wildlife of these islands that he named one of its most unusual islets after his close friend and fellow naturist, Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan. Today, Bartholomew Island is no less fascinating that is was in 1835 when Darwin first arrived. Visitors typically swim and snorkel around the iconic Pinnacle Rock where they are treated to an impressive natural world of penguins, marine turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and other marine creatures, many of which are found nowhere else on earth.
The island of Santa Cruz is home to Puerto Ayora, the largest and most developed town in the Galapagos. Although many travellers use it as a springboard to explore the more remote surrounding islands, those who venture deeper will find that Santa Cruz has much to offer in its own right. With numerous visitor sites, easily accessible beaches, and remote highlands at its heart, the island serves as an excellent base for adventure. Its most renowned attraction, the Charles Darwin Station, features an impressive turtle breeding programme and fascinating displays on the conservation of the Galapagos’ unique biosphere. Visitors can also swim or snorkel at the island’s magnificent beaches, where white sand and turquoise waters are alive with pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas.
Perched at the southern edge of the Galápagos archipelago, Española Island, Ecuador, exudes a raw, untamed beauty. Its windswept cliffs, golden beaches, and rugged lava formations create a dramatic backdrop where wildlife reigns supreme. Visitors are captivated by the island’s most famous residents: seasonally, thousands of waved albatrosses perform intricate courtship dances, playful sea lions basking on sun-warmed rocks, and vibrant marine iguanas dotting the shores. Snorkelling in crystalline waters reveals a kaleidoscope of tropical fish, while the rhythmic crash of waves against cliffs underscores the island’s isolation. Accessible only via guided tours, Española offers a tranquil yet exhilarating encounter with nature, rewarding travellers with rare glimpses of one of the world’s most pristine and extraordinary ecosystems.
Resting approximately 12 kilometres southeast of Santa Cruz, the relatively small island of Santa Fe is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos archipelago with rock formations below the water’s surface dating back almost four million years. The island is best known for its endemic Barrington Land Iguana as well as its towering prickly pear cacti which have been known to reach remarkable heights of up to 20 feet. The magnificent Barrington Bay is the only visitor site on the island. There are two hiking trails that start here. One leads to a scenic viewpoint atop a cliff and the other wends through a forest of gigantic opuntia cacti. The beach is popular with sea lions and is an excellent spot from which to snorkel the radiant blue-green waters. You may even spot a Galapagos green turtle gracefully swimming by.
A small, vibrant jewel in the Galápagos archipelago, South Plaza Island is a striking study in contrasts. Its rugged cliffs rise sharply from turquoise waters, while the interior is carpeted with bright orange and green sesuvium plants, creating a kaleidoscope of colours. The island teems with life: colonies of sea lions lounge lazily on sun-warmed rocks, swallow-tailed gulls wheel overhead, and striking land iguanas patrol the sunbaked terrain. Visitors can wander along narrow trails that weave through dramatic cliffs and cactus-studded landscapes, or snorkel in the surrounding waters, where playful fish dart among the waves. The salty tang of the ocean blends with the hum of seabird colonies, offering an intimate sensory experience with one of the Galápagos’ most vibrant and unique islands.
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador, renowned for their amazing endemic species, especially the giant tortoises which give the islands their name. Only discovered in the 1800s, the islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the surrounding waters are a national park and biological marine reserve. Of the 18 islands Baltra, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal, and Santa Cruz are now populated by more than 25 000 people. The original names were given by an English pirate, but the Ecuadorians have given the islands Spanish names. The Islands were made famous by Charles Darwin after he visited them on his scientific voyage on the HMS Beagle, and the endemic species here contributed significantly to Darwinian Theory.
