Welcome to the Galapagos Islands

Imagine stepping onto a volcanic island where the animals have never learned to fear humans. Giant tortoises lumber past your feet without a glance. Marine iguanas sun themselves on black lava rocks just inches from where you stand. Blue-footed boobies perform their mating dance right in front of you, lifting their bright blue feet in a comical high-step. Welcome to the Galapagos Islands.

Located 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, these volcanic islands are home to some of the most unique wildlife on the planet. About 97% of reptiles and land mammals here are found nowhere else on Earth. It was here, in 1835, that a young naturalist named Charles Darwin spent five weeks observing finches, tortoises, and iguanas — observations that would revolutionize our understanding of life itself.

Today, you will explore these remarkable islands, meet their extraordinary inhabitants, and discover why the Galapagos remain one of the most important natural laboratories on Earth. The adventure begins!