How are finches on the Galapagos Islands similar?The finches are similar because they all are only found in the Galapagos. They are different because they have unique diets and beak shapes. How were Galápagos Island finches similar to each other and yet different from each other? On the Galapagos Islands, Darwin also saw several different […]

You MUST NOT bring any agricultural or plant materials or any unprocessed food products to the islands. To avoid problems at customs and bag check we suggest only traveling to Galapagos with pre-wrapped snack products such as chocolate bars, etc. What is not allowed in the Galapagos? Do not take or buy any products or […]

The Galapagos Islands are about 1,000 km (600 miles) off the west coast of South America. Can you fly between Galapagos Islands? When hopping from island to island in Galapagos, a scenic alternative to the cheaper speed boats and ferries are the inter-island flight. You must arrive to the airport at least 30 minutes prior […]

“Galápagos are a wonderful place to study evolution, still, because, remarkably, several islands and their inhabitants are close to being in the fully natural state, with little or no influence of human activities,” says the evolutionary biologist and Princeton University professor emeritus Peter Grant who, with his Why are the Galapagos Islands such an important […]

The Galápagos Islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are part of the country of Ecuador, in South America.The Galápagos are best known for their diverse array of plant and animal species. Many species are endemic, which means they are not found anywhere else in the world. Why […]

lava. Bartolomé Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Map and tour of the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are formed of lava piles and dotted with shield volcanoes, many of which are periodically active. The striking ruggedness of the arid landscape is accentuated by high volcanic mountains, craters, and cliffs. What were the Galapagos Islands made from? […]

Santa Cruz has the longest paved road in Galapagos, which runs north-south across the island, taking people from the airport ferry at Itabaca Canal on the north coast into the highlands and through a few smaller towns on its way down to Puerto Ayora, the island’s largest city located on the southern coast of the […]

The Galápagos Islands are an isolated set of volcanoes, consisting of shield volcanoes and lava plateaus, located 1,200 km (746 mi) west of Ecuador. They are driven by the Galápagos hotspot, and are between 4.2 million and 700,000 years of age. What types of volcanoes make up the Galápagos Islands and where would you find […]

The Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador although they lie in the Pacific Ocean about 960 km to the west of mainland South America. Where is Galapagos Islands located? EcuadorThe Galápagos Islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are part of the country of Ecuador, in South America. […]

On the Galapagos Islands, there are three major ecosystems: terrestrial, coastal and marine. In the years of El Niño, the ecosystems show their characteristic behaviours. In the terrestrial zone predominate heavy rains, which has a positive effect on the animals and plants in this zone. What is the environment of the Galapagos Islands like? The […]

The Galapagos shark reaches a maximum length of 330 cm (11 ft). Male individuals mature at lengths of 2.1-2.4 m (6.9-7.5 ft.) while females mature at 2.2-2.5 m (7.2-8.2 feet) in length. How big can Galapagos sharks get? One of the largest species in its genus, the Galapagos shark commonly reaches 3.0 m (9.8 ft) […]

His discoveries on the islands were paramount to the development of his Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. On the islands, Charles Darwin discovered several species of finches. Thanks to his close observations, he discovered that the different species of finches varied from island to island. What did Darwin observe on the Galapagos Islands? From […]

In Galapagos, the Earth’s crust is moving from west to east over the hot spot. Therefore, the islands that are furthest to the east, such as San Cristóbal, are the oldest: they were formed many thousands of years ago. Because these older islands are no longer over the hot spot, they are no longer volcanically […]

The Galápagos are located at the confluence of several currents including the cold Humboldt Current traveling north from South America and the Panama Current traveling south from Central America make the islands cooler and provide the perfect environment for the unique mix of wildlife that inhabits the islands. How did the Galapagos end up with […]

The Galapagos is an archipelago of 19 islands in the Pacific Ocean.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. Do humans live on Galapagos? Where do people live in Galapagos […]