The Galapagos Islands: mother nature’s laboratory

The Galapagos, an archipelago consisting of 13 large islands, six small ones and more than 40 islets, are found approximately 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Volcanic islands with a total land area of 3,092 square miles, they emerged from the Pacific Ocean about five million years ago. Through evolution they have become the established habitat of many endemic, coexisting species — Charles Darwin’s Theory of the Evolution of Species are based on the findings of his five-week stay on these islands.

Following in the footsteps of Darwin, many scientists and naturalists use the Galapagos as a laboratory for the study of species. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts research programs throughout the archipelago, while the Galapagos National Park oversees conservation of the islands’ natural resources. The government of Ecuador has enacted many laws to protect the islands and to regulate tourist visits to them, and UNESCO has declared them a Natural Patrimony of Humanity.

Because there are no bridges connecting the islands, all travel between them is done by boat. Metropolitan Touring’s fleet of environment-friendly boats includes the 90-passenger M/V Santa Cruz vessel, the 40-passenger Isabela II yacht, and the 36-passenger day cruiser Delfin II. Quasar Nautica’s fleet includes the Lili Marleen, a 250-foot three-mast sailboat that accommodates 48 passengers, and Canodros offers a 100-passenger cruise vessel known as The Galapagos Explorer II. All three touring companies provide custom services with serious regard for conservation and minimizing impact on the environment.

Acclaimed sailor Diego de Rivadeneira called the renowned islands the Enchanted Islands because they seem to appear and disappear in surrounding haze.

Upon arriving at Baltra Airport, tourists to the Galapagos are typically taken by a guide on a tour of Santa Cruz, where vegetation ranges from arid to luscious green. The island’s Pit Craters, also known as the twin craters, engulf tourists in silence and open space. The Delfin Hotel, located at Academy Bay next to the town of Puerto Ayora, exudes a soothing and comfortable ambience, enhanced by the placidness of the beach, surrounding lagoons, cacti, sun-bathing pelicans and statue-like iguanas. Nearby is the acclaimed Charles Darwin Research Station, which features a tortoise breeding house, where giant tortoises from numerous islands are bred. When a baby tortoise reaches five years old it is returned to its island of origin. The breeding house’s only resident tortoise is Lonesome George, the last of his species, who will not mate with female tortoises of similar species from the island of his origin, Santa Pinta.

Floreana, an island often surrounded by majestic whales and dolphins, features Point Cormorant, home to pink flamingos. Floreana’s white, sandy beaches showcase sea turtles and stingrays. Tourists should be alert to the sand-camouflaged stingrays to avoid injury to their feet. A boat ride around the island exposes tourists to colonies of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, penguins, sea turtles and eagle rays, all in their natural habitats, while snorkeling at Devil’s Crown reveals coral, sharks and myriads of fish. Traditionally, visitors to Floreana stop in at the Post Office Bay for a postcard exchange.

Other islands not-to-be-missed on a tour of the Galapagos are Isabela, Bartolome, Santa Fe, Fernandina, Española, San Salvador, Rabida, Genovesa, Plaza and North Seymour, though any island in this magnificent chain will leave visitors with impressions and memories for a lifetime.