Galapagos Islands

Candid tips & insights

 

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Why the
Galapagos Islands
are special

The Galapagos Islands of Ecuador are remote. They are some 1000 kilometers (600 miles) off the South American coast. This geographical isolation enabled Galapagos Island creatures to slowly change into new versions of themselves, ones that are found nowhere else on earth.

Famous examples include the marine iguana and giant tortoise. The islands were the catalyst for the evolution theory developed by Charles Darwin in the early 1800s.

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Galapagos Islands
tips & insights

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Mistakes Galapagos
travelers make -
and how to avoid them

Don't make the same errors other travelers have made before you. Click the links below for my Galapagos Islands Guide. Its web pages spotlight crucial mistakes and give you candid advice on avoiding them:

Best and worst times to go
How to avoid boat selection mistakes
How to avoid other blunders

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The Galapagos
is popular

Each year 60,000 travelers vacation in the Galapagos Islands.

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Relive
Darwin's visit

The fauna and flora you will see are for the most part the same as Charles Darwin saw nearly 200 years ago. 

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Organized
yacht cruises

Most vacationers book yacht cruises, with durations ranging from 4 days to 2 weeks. The highlights are the twice daily land excursions from the cruise ship to view the unique wildlife and vegetation.

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Underwater
pursuits

Some vacationers also snorkel and dive. The Galapagos Islands are considered one of the world's finest spots for those sports.

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Top 10
Galapagos wildlife list

Everyone who has visited the islands has his own personal list. I impartially surveyed Galapagos Islands travelers for their opinions on which wildlife creatures thrilled them the most. The consensus:

1  Marine iguana

2  Giant tortoise

3  Blue footed booby

4  Land iguana

5  Penguin

6  Sea lion

7  Sally lightfoot crab

8  Waved albatross

9  Flamingo

10 Frigate bird

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More Galapagos
pages

Interesting Galapagos tidbits
Galapagos island locator map

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