The Galapagos Islands are a stunning volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, far off the coast of Ecuador in South America. providing endless wildlife experiences in a variety of countries and styles. The 19 islands and surrounding marine reserves that make up the archipelago are UNESCO listed as providing ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ due to the incredible diversity of wildlife that developed in geographic isolation.
The Galapagos Islands are crossed by three major ocean currents; the cold Humbolt Current (also known as the Peru Current) from the east, the warm Panama current from the north, and the deep sea Cromwell Current from the west. This mixing of currents mean the marine reserves surrounding the archipelago is a melting pot of unique species – perfectly suited to travellers interested in wildlife, biology and history. After Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos in the early 1800’s, he was inspired to write his theory on evolution via natural selection. The Charles Darwin Research Station is a fantastic stop anyone visiting Santa Cruz Island.
