On the westernmost island in the Galapagos Islands lies the volcanic chain’s most active volcano: Fernandina. Located on a remote, uninhabited island in the Galapagos National Park, the volcano’s eruptions often go unobserved, but on May 13, 2005, the volcano’s eruption was unmistakable. How many volcanoes does Galapagos have? 21 volcanoesGalapagos Travel There are 21 […]

Among the large populations of marine life living in the waters around the Galápagos, approximately 20 percent of the species are endemic, according to the Galapagos Conservancy. How many animals are unique to the Galapagos Islands? Around 56 species live in the archipelago, of which 27 are found only in the Galápagos. Some of these […]

In 1570 the Galapagos Islands were included in a world atlas by a Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius. He named the islands ‘Insulae de los de Galapagos’. The shells of the giant tortoises reminded the visitors of horse saddles, and Galapagos comes from the Spanish word for saddle. What are the Galapagos Islands named after? Though […]

Due to the difference in the new species beak shape and size, they were able to access a variety of food which was inaccessible to the native species on the island. Why did finches evolve over time? Key factors in their evolutionary diversification are environmental change, natural selection, and cultural evolution. A long-term study of […]

Galapagos Giant Tortoise This is one of the most famous animals only found on the Galapagos Islands. Actually, that’s how the Galapagos got its name. What are 5 animals only found on the Galapagos Islands? 9 animals you’ll only find in the Galápagos Galápagos land iguana. Marine iguanas. Galápagos giant tortoise. Darwin’s finches. Frigatebirds. Blue-footed […]

The first things to colonise the islands are small and basic organisms (e.g. lichen, algae and mosses), able to cope with the harsh environment. Washed up on the shoreline or blown by the wind from the South American mainland, these pioneer species are the first forms of life on the bare rock. How did life […]

Charles Darwin. The name of Charles Darwin and his famous book The Origin of Species will forever be linked with the Galapagos Islands. Although he was only in the Galapagos for five weeks in 1835, it was the wildlife that he saw there that inspired him to develop his Theory of Evolution. How did the […]

The Galapagos snakes are one of the most beautiful reptiles of the archipelago. Galapagos snakes are all endemic to Galapagos. There are five different species and all of them inhabit the dry zones of the islands, however they do not inhabit all of the Galapagos islands. Are Galapagos racer snakes poisonous? Filmed on Fernandina Island […]

Note: tourists’ pets are not allowed in Galapagos Islands. We flew from Quito to Lima on our way to Santiago de Chile to take the flight back to Spain. Can you pet animals in the Galapagos? Be a Respectful Observer. It may sound obvious to some, but one of the most important Galapagos rules is […]

If you are traveling during the warmer months, you can easily wear a 3 millimeter wetsuit, which is what you need and which will not take up a lot of space in your luggage. If you are going to travel during the colder months, you will find a 5 millimeter wetsuit to be a better […]

Even though the archipelago is a National Park, some of the biggest islands are not only home to the Galapagos flora and fauna, but to humans.Locals of the islands are known as galapagueños and most of them came from the Ecuadorian mainland, and you will find they are simple, kind, and joyful people. Are there […]

In the Footsteps of Darwin – The Galapagos Archipelago New government rules have now made it possible to purchase island property in the Galapagos Archipelago. Up to 3% of the 60 islands in the archipelago are available for private ownership. Can foreigners buy property in Galapagos? For matters of real estate, foreigners and Ecuadorian natives […]

During the cool nights they sleep and nest on the land. Galápagos Penguin hold their flippers out to help the heat escape their bodies. Where and how does a Galapagos penguin sleep? During the day, the penguins retreat to the water for foraging trips. At night, however, they return to the ground to sleep in […]

Galapagos tortoises are cold-blooded animals (they do not have stable body temperature). What is unique about Galapagos tortoise? The giant tortoises of Galapagos are among the most famous of the unique fauna of the Islands.Saddle-backed shells evolved on the arid islands in response to the lack of available food during drought. Are Galapagos tortoises warm […]

While meal prices in Galapagos Islands can vary, the average cost of food in Galapagos Islands is $27 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Galapagos Islands should cost around $11 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. How […]