Galapagos Islands Tourist Guide
The Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, were made
famous by the naturalist Charles Darwin, who wrote about their
astonishing variety of wildlife during his voyage of discovery and
research in the 1800s. Modern means of travel, notably cruise
ships, have made the islands more accessible and visitors can
follow in Darwin?s footsteps and discover a wealth of natural
beauty unspoilt by modern development.
The Galapagos Islands straddle the Equator in the Pacific Ocean
about 600 miles off the coast of mainland Ecuador. There are 19
main islands and hundreds of islets and rocks, which rose out of
the ocean through volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. Only
four islands have human populations and modern communications. It
was the huge variety of species and the observation of small but
significant differences among birds and turtles and other animals
on the different islands that had a profound effect on
Darwin’s thinking of how populations of living things
evolve.
You can charter a yacht and visit islands privately at your own
pace, or take a cruise ship tour, possibly starting from mainland
Ecuador. Your cruise ship will usually have a guest naturalist on
board who can give talks on the natural history, ecology and
conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Some boats are equipped with
gear for diving and offer the services of instructors and qualified
dive guides.
The local environment is so sensitive and scientifically
important that care must be taken to ensure it is not damaged by
over-indulgence. The Islands as a whole are a National Park and
ecological research work continues to this day. The number of
visits from cruise ships is strictly controlled by the government
of Ecuador. A cruise to the Galapagos Islands is therefore not only
a delight but a privilege.
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