Over time, Darwin began to wonder if species from South America had reached the Galapagos and then changed as they adapted to new environments. This idea—that species could change over time—eventually led to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Why did animals on the Galapagos Islands change over time? Lamarck and Darwin agreed that […]

Range and Habitat Giant tortoises are found only on the Galapagos Islands and prefer to live in dry lowlands. They are found on the islands of Pinzon, Española and Isabela. In general, saddleback tortoises live in arid zones and feed mostly on cactus. What is the habitat of a tortoise? Tortoises live in a variety […]

Historical Figures Tomas de Berlanga, Bishop of Panama: The Discoverer of Galapagos (1535) William Dampier: Pirates Ahoy! Charles Darwin: Revolutionary Encounters (1835) Herman Melville: Galapagos Musings (1841) Bo Derek (2007) Richard Gere (2009) Russel Crowe & Paul Bettany (2003) What are people from the Galapagos islands called? Most people are from the Mestizo ethnic group, […]

In Galapagos Where to see them: They are found mainly on Isabela and Fernandina islands but they can also be seen on Floreana, Santiago and Bartolome. People often swim with them around Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome. When to see them: Galapagos penguins live and breed on the Galapagos Islands all year round. Which islands in […]

The Galapagos Archipelago consists of 8000 km2 of land spread over 45,000 km² of ocean.Being entirely isolated from civilization, the Galapagos Islands provide excellent habitats for animals and plants to thrive and flourish. Is there human life on the Galapagos? Many are surprised to know the Galapagos are indeed inhabited. Even though the archipelago is […]

Galapagos tortoises have two very different shapes, each adapted for different feeding habits needed on low, arid islands versus high, lusher islands. Why are tortoises different on each island? Tortoises from different islands can be identified by the shape of their shells, which appear to have evolved into two main types with slight variations. Tortoises […]

Galapagos Islands, Spanish Islas Galápagos, officially Archipiélago de Colón (“Columbus Archipelago”), island group of the eastern Pacific Ocean, administratively a province of Ecuador. What are the Galapagos islands called? Archipiélago de ColónThe Galápagos Islands (official name: Archipiélago de Colón, other Spanish name: Islas Galápagos, pronounced [ˈislas ɣaˈlapaɣos], local pronunciation: [ˈihlah ɣaˈlapaɣoh]), part of the Republic […]

Ecuador. Ecuador and the Galapagos Ecuador annexed the islands in 1832, shortly after its independence and three years before Darwin’s famous Beagle voyage. Who did the Galapagos belong to before independence? Ecuador claims the Galapagos Considered an unimportant archipelago, the Galapagos Islands were annexed by Ecuador in 1832, shortly after the country had won its […]

A day tour in Galapagos is an adventure that you will always remember. Visits to these islands are made only by day trips departing from Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela islands.Tours of 4, 5 or more days visit: Tours to Galapago. Can you visit the Galapagos Islands in one day? Our Galapagos Day Tours […]

Environmental conditions make the Galápagos a unique island ecosystem. The Galápagos Islands are located near the equator, yet they receive cool ocean currents. This makes for a strange mix of tropical and temperate climates. For most of their history, the islands have been extremely isolated. What makes the Galapagos so unique? The Galapagos Islands are […]

Scientists believe the first tortoises arrived to Galapagos 2–3 million years ago by drifting 600 miles from the South American coast on vegetation rafts or on their own. They were already large animals before arriving in Galapagos. Where did Tortoise come from? Distribution. Tortoises are found from southern North America to southern South America, around […]

They are part of the Republic of Ecuador.The Galápagos Islands and their surrounding waters form the Galápagos Province of Ecuador, the Galápagos National Park, and the Galápagos Marine Reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish. Does Ecuador own the Galapagos? Galapagos Islands, Spanish Islas Galápagos, officially Archipiélago de Colón (“Columbus Archipelago”), island group […]

Each island has its own unique landscapes, wildlife and activities, and only five of them are actually inhabited by people. Small communities are dotted across San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana and Baltra. The rest of the islands are completely devoid of human presence. Do any humans live on the Galapagos Islands? Where do people […]

Today there are an estimated 1,700 invasive species across the Galapagos Islands. Invasive species are mainly introduced by humans either intentionally or unintentionally.Some species such as cats, farm animals and plants have been purposely introduced to Galapagos for agricultural and domestic reasons. How did species get to the Galapagos Islands? Swept up in ocean currents […]

How much does it cost to SCUBA dive in the Galapagos? The approximate cost of a liveaboard diving tour is between $600 and $700 per day. These tours usually last an average of 8 days. Is diving the Galapagos hard? A: Galapagos diving conditions can be challenging. Currents are moderate to strong and may require […]