Find out about planning a first time trip to the Galapagos Islands. Embark on a luxury Galapagos cruise to explore the dramatic landscapes and fearless wildlife of this beautiful archipelago.
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The Galapagos Islands
An isolated speck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos islands are one of the last few places on earth where rich, diverse plant and animal life has remained largely untouched by humans.
This incredible biological diversity and the lack of impact from man becomes breathtakingly apparent as soon as you arrive. Stepping over a sleeping sea lion, inching past a 'skypointing' blue-footed boobie or watching one of the lackadaisical giant tortoises from within arm's reach will quickly make you realise why these remote islands and the wildlife they support are so precious.
Use the tabs above to find out more about visiting Galapagos, including answers to the most frequently asked questions and whether to stay on land or sea during your visit. If you would like to find out more about booking a tailor-made trip to the Galapagos, call one of our experienced country specialists on 01993 838 635.
When the young Charles Darwin arrived on the Galapagos archipelago in the autumn of 1835, he was less than impressed by what greeted him. Disembarking the HMS Beagle on San Cristóbal island, he is recorded to have commented that the air had ‘a close and sultry feeling’ and that ‘the plants also smell unpleasantly’. Furthermore, Darwin initially saw many of the islands’ larger species as food, joining his contemporaries in exploiting the ready supply of tortoise meat. However, he soon came to appreciate his surroundings and their residents, and spent five weeks exploring the islands.
Darwin’s time in the Galapagos is certainly credited with influencing his theory of natural selection, although its effects weren’t immediate. On the Origin of Species opens with an affirmation by the author of the crucial discoveries he made during his journey on the HMS Beagle, but it was some time after the voyage that the data and samples collected led to his ‘evolutionary adaptation through natural selection’ conclusions.
Nowadays, Darwin’s influence remains readily visible within the Galapagos; his name attached to the ubiquitous finches, the Research Station on Santa Cruz island and one of the far northwest islands in the archipelago.