The Galapagos Islands
The “living laboratory” of the Galápagos Islands is set in the Pacific Ocean some 960km west of the coast of Ecuador. Tourism on the Islands is strictly controlled. The National Park service has made a selection of about 45 visitor sites where tourists are allowed to visit in the company of trained guides. Trails, marked with small stakes painted in white, should not be left or you risk crushing plants and animals underfoot. Every island in the Galápagos is unique for its flora and fauna, as well as an incredible range of birds over all the islands. The islands are also a paradise for reptiles, the most common being the endemic black marine iguanas. The most famous Galápagos reptile is the giant tortoise, from which the islands took their name. There are also sea lions, seals, penguins and bottle-nosed dolphins and an exceptional underwater world.
It is best to pre-arrange your flight and accommodations aboard a boat before arriving to the Galápagos.
