A popularly held belief is that the original species that evolved into the unique Galapagos variety found their way to the islands on flotation rafts of vegetation and other waste and were carried to the island via wind and sea currents. Why were there different finches on each of the Galapagos Islands? On various islands, […]

Galápagos tortoise Superfamily: Testudinoidea Family: Testudinidae Genus: Chelonoidis Species complex: Chelonoidis niger complex Fitzinger, 1835 What is a Galapagos tortoise classified as? The Galapagos turtle belongs to the family of land-dwelling tortoises known by the scientific name of Testudinidae. This taxonomy classification is based on its anatomy, genetics, and evolutionary history. Is the Galapagos tortoise […]

Tiger Sharks in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.Worldwide, Tiger Sharks are known to be a highly migratory species present in most tropical and temperate seas. In the Galapagos Islands, they hold a special place as they are residents of its Marine Reserve and rarely leave. What sharks are found in the Galapagos? Almost 30 species of […]

Galapagos Ferry Cost The public ferries cost between $25-35US per passenger, per ride. It’s best to check with a couple of ticket sellers in town before buying your tickets. Chances are they are selling tickets at the same price, but you may be able to save $5/ride by booking a specific boat from a specific […]

basalt rock. Unexpected discovery of zircons in basalt rock It has now been established that the zircon originates from young basalt rock, the main rock type that forms the Galapagos Islands. This rock is produced by volcanic eruptions such as those still occurring in the western sector of the archipelago. What are the Galapagos Islands […]

7. Getting Around in the Islands​ Once again, I must mention that Galapagos is an isolated place, therefore, there are not many cars or means of transportation, the only ones you might be able to see are the roller scooters. How do you get around the Galapagos Islands? Getting around the Galapagos Islands is easy […]

Giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) Perhaps the most famous species of the Galápagos, the giant tortoise is endemic, meaning they aren’t found anywhere else in the world. What animal is Galapagos famous for? Galapagos TortoisesThe Galapagos Tortoises are perhaps the Galapagos famous animal per se, considering they gave the name “Galapagos” to the archipelago and are […]

Bring comfortable walking or hiking shoes with good traction for the Galapagos.If you are not sure-footed and lose your balance on occasions, taller hiking boots with ankle support are recommended. Certain visitor sites during a Galapagos cruise will include walking on loose rocks and uneven terrain. Do you need water shoes for Galapagos? Hiking/water shoes: […]

Located 1,000km due west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the islands are home to many unique species found nowhere else in the world. The best known are the Galapagos giant tortoise, land iguana and lava lizard. What are the Galapagos Islands used for? In the 450 years of human history, the islands have been […]

For matters of real estate, foreigners and Ecuadorian natives are almost on an equal footing. There are restrictions on ownership of property that lies within 50 kilometers of the coast or an international border. Foreigners must request permission (which is routinely granted) to buy or live on such properties. Can I buy property on the […]

Galapagos Islands, Spanish Islas Galápagos, officially Archipiélago de Colón (“Columbus Archipelago”), island group of the eastern Pacific Ocean, administratively a province of Ecuador. What country do Galápagos Islands belong to? EcuadorMarine Iguana. The Galápagos Islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are part of the country of Ecuador, […]

1: Finches of Daphne Major: A drought on the Galápagos island of Daphne Major in 1977 reduced the number of small seeds available to finches, causing many of the small-beaked finches to die. This caused an increase in the finches’ average beak size between 1976 and 1978. What happened to Darwin’s finches? In reality, these […]

Marine iguanas are endemic to the Galapagos Islands and are the only marine lizard species in the world. 2. Marine iguanas can dive more than 65 feet (20 m) underwater. Do Galapagos marine iguanas swim in the sea? They are herbivores and eat marine algae growing along rocky shores and underwater. In the water, they […]

Just about every rocky shoreline in the Galapagos Islands is home to the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), the only sea-going lizard in the world. What are the big lizards in the Galapagos Islands? The land iguanas more closely resemble their mainland cousins, both in appearance and diet, than the marine iguanas. As iguanas go, they […]

The best time to spot Galapagos whales is usually from June to November. As ocean nomads, whales can migrate to wherever the best feeding grounds are to be found throughout the year, and at Galapagos that means the cold water months. What is the best month to go whale watching? The Whales & Whale Watching. […]