Galapagos Islands Travel Guide

Lying 620 miles west of the South American continent, the Galapagos Islands revel in their isolation. The islands made famous by Charles Darwin have evolved into a one of a kind ecosystem that is as fragile as it is spectacular. Because of its delicate ways, tourism to the Galapagos Islands is strictly controlled. As of 2007, approximately 60,000 visitors sojourn to the islands each year.

The main attraction, of course, is the wildlife. The strange and unusual creatures that Darwin described during his time still call the archipelago home. You can see many of them on guided boat and foot tours that are led by national park certified naturalists. Just reminder to be mindful of your location. The Galapagos Islands are very fragile and the pressures of tourism can very seriously impact the animals you are there to visit.

The vast majority of tourists visit the Galapagos Islands as part of a tour group. This is the easiest way to go about things and it is oftentimes the cheapest, although you should be forewarned that this is one destination that is not super cheap to visit in general.

A large number of cruise ships pay a visit to the Galapagos, including some that depart from Florida and the United States. You can also fly directly to the islands from Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador but you'll want to make sure you have all of your other travel arrangements in place before you pay for an airplane ticket.

Once you are on the Galapagos, there are hotels and hostels to be found in the towns of Puerto Ayora, Puerto Villamil and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, among other places.

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