Ecuador’s Most Famous Islands
Ecuador’s Most Famous Islands
Ninety-seven Percent Parkland Paradise
Islas Galapagos – More commonly known as The Galapagos Islands, the most famous island chain in the world – remains to this day so much like Charles Darwin first discovered it a few hundred years ago. Remarkably, the Galapagos archipelago still sports most of the original flora and fauna that Darwin discovered on his first voyage. As such, Islas Galapagos remains pristine and available through the parklands that Ecuador supports and maintains, providing a natural paradise that thousands of travelers visit each year.
Once on a Galapagos Island cruise, visitors can see what has propelled them there as they view numerous plant species, reptiles, and mammals up close. Even with all the visitors arriving at the park each year, the two and four-legged creatures have little fear of humans. This allows tourists to sit within only a couple feet of animals in some cases, taking pictures or simply basking in the closeness of nature.
Islas Galapagos, as they are known in the southern hemisphere, are located approximately 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador and are easily accessible from the mainland by plane. Even though there are 60 named islands and numerous smaller islets in the chain, there are only a half dozen that are typically frequented by travelers. San Cristobal, James, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandino, and Baltra are the most common destinations.
Similar to the Hawaiian Island’s creation, Islas Galapagos were formed by a sub-oceanic lava vent that created. This very process, along with archipelago’s distance from the mainland, facilitated the unique indigenous species adaptations that continue to inhabit the islands today. Additionally, where the Islas Galapagos are situated near the equator with their oceanic currents, the Galapagos provides a very temperate climate for travelers.
Once visitors tour the extensive parklands, they enjoy beautiful adventures viewing such creatures as the marine or land iguanas, giant tortoises, numerous species of birds, and massive seal colonies. Plus, for the more adventurous visitors, snorkeling or scuba diving offers a rich and colorful underwater sea world that is truly breathtaking.
You can see how Islas Galapagos has become one of the most exotic and favored destinations of choice for the discerning traveler interested in nature. The Galapagos Islands remain the best ‘zoo without walls’ on the planet today.
