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Request a call backAbundant fearless wildlife, visitors can get up close and personal to some of the world's rarest animals
Galapagos is home to the only surviving giant Pinta tortoise, 'Lonesome George'
The convergence of three major oceanic currents brings an incredible mix of marine life to Galapagos
The endemic Galapagos marine iguana is the only lizard to swim in the ocean
Darwin's research in Galapagos led to the groundbreaking theory of The Origin of Species
In 1978 UNESCO designated Galapagos as the first World Heritage site
The movie Captain and Commander was filmed on the islands of Bartholomew and Santiago
The name 'galapagos', an old Spanish word for 'saddle', was originally used by Bishop Tomas and his crew to describe the giant tortoises but the name stuck
Due to the early presence of both Spanish and English inhabitants in Galapagos, the Islands now have both Spanish and English names
Due to their isolation and position on the equator the Galapagos can be visited all year round
There are considered to be two main seasons: The 'dry season' June to December and the 'warm season' December to May
The dry season is characterized by blue skies and midday showers whereas the warm season is more tropical with daily rain and cloudier skies
Sea mammals and land birds are most active during the dry season and there are many sea bird courtship displays
VIEW MORE INFORMATIONThere are two seasons: December to May is warm and wet and June to December is cool and dry
Annual rainfall in the lower regions is 2-4in (60-100mm) and the air temperature varies between 69°-84°F/21°-29°C
The Islands' climate is determined by ocean currents
The sudden climatic change caused by El Niño can be devastating and as many as 50% of sea lions and marine iguanas can die during this time
The convergence of three major oceanic currents brings an incredible mix of marine life to Galapagos
Despite being located in the tropics, the Islands' micro-climate is curiously dry.
During the cool season, the Humboldt Current brings relatively cold water, which produces thermal inversions that impede rainfall.
At this time, a fine mist called “garúa” is formed as cool, moist air just above the water meets a higher layer of air which is warmed by the hot sun.
'El Niño' is a phenomenon that occurs roughly every 5-7 years. The southeast trade winds slacken and cause the sea temperatures to rise dramatically and cause storms and heavy rainfall.
VIEW MORE INFORMATIONLos Gemelos (the twins) are two 'pit craters', formed when empty magma chambers collapsed in on themselves
Alcedo Volcano on Isabela Island has the largest tortoise population and is the only volcano visitors can climb
The Devil's Crown is a dramatic snorkeling site to the north of Cormorant Point where there is an almost completely submerged volcano
The lava tunnels on Santa Cruz provide an understanding of how the islands are formed
Post Office Bay on Floreana is home to a fascinating tradition where a barrel placed there by whalers in the late 18th century was used as an unofficial postbox
The Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela has the largest basaltic caldera in the world measuring 5.6x6.2 miles(9x10km)
The Wall of Tears on Isabela was constructed by the prisoners of the Penal colony in the mid 40's and characterizes the cruelty the prisoners had to endure
VIEW MORE INFORMATIONDarwin sailed to Galapagos on board the HMS Beagle in Sep. 1835, when he was 26 years old
During the five weeks that he spent there, he went ashore to collect plants, rocks, insects and birds
He observed the unusual life forms and their adaptations to the harsh environment
He noted that it was possible to tell which island a tortoise came from by the shape of their shell
His research about the number of species of finches inspired his groundbreaking theory The Origin of Species, published in 1859
The estimated age of the Islands is between 3 and 10 million years
The Islands lie on the junction of three tectonic plates– the Pacific, Cocos and Nazca
Intense heat caused by the plates being pushed apart leads to eruptions which create new volcanoes and eventually form new islands ('Hot spot' theory)
There have been around 13 volcanic eruptions in Galapagos in the last 100 years
Most recent eruptions: 3rd June 2008 on Isabela and April 2009 on Fernandina
In 1959, the Government of Ecuador declared all uninhabited areas of Galapagos a national park
In 1978 UNESCO designated Galapagos as the first World Heritage site and the Galapagos Marine Reserve received the same status in 1998
The Galapagos Islands is second only to the Great Barrier Reef National Park of Australia in terms of the size of marine area protected (80780miles2 / 130000km2 )
The Galapagos National Park Service is the main government authority which oversees the safeguarding of the islands' natural resources
The Galapagos penguin is the only to be found in the northern hemisphere and to breed in the tropics
A Galapagos tortoise can weigh up to 595lb with a carapace length of 4ft and outlive most humans
The Galapagos fur sea lions are the smallest among the world's seven species of fur sea lions
The Galapagos Marine Iguana is the only marine lizard to exist in the world
The Galapagos Islands are home to the world's largest cormorant and the only one unable to fly.
Galapagos has one of the world's rare ecosystems in which the herbivores at the top of the food chain are reptiles.
Galapagos Swallow-tailed gulls are the only gulls in the world to feed at night
The Galapagos boasts the world`s largest and only red-footed booby colony
There are 23 species of reptile in the Galapagos and all but two of those are endemic to the archipelago.
The Galapagos is one of the few areas of the world where turtles are still a common sight.
Over 400 species of fish have been recognized in the Galapagos, with 41 species unique to the islands.
At 30cm in length and with a large pair of venomous jaws, the endemic centipede (Scolopendra galapagoensis) is among the Islands' most feared animals
A lichen survey in June 2010 by the Charles Darwin Foundation uncovered more than 60 new species in the Galapagos with an estimated ten species new to science.
Situated approximately 600 miles (1000km) west of the Ecuadorian mainland
Cover a land area of roughly 4971 miles² (8000km²)
Straddle the Equator between 1.5° north and 0.5° south, and 89° to 92° west.
Highest point is the peak of Wolf volcano on Isabela Island at 5600 ft (1707 m)
The Islands' have 837 miles (1350 km) of coastline, more than mainland Ecuador
1535-The Galapagos Islands are discovered by the Bishop of Panama, Fray Tomas de Berlanga
1835–Charles Darwin arrived on HMS Beagle
1959–Government of Ecuador declared all uninhabited areas to be a national park
1964–Official inauguration of the Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz
1978-Galapagos was designated as the 1st World Heritage site by UNESCO
'Lonesome George' is one of the rarest animals in the world
He is the only surviving giant Pinta Island tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni)
Estimated age of 90 years
Has been relocated to the Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Island
Has been put with two females, but although eggs have been produced, none have yet hatched
Early human activity on the islands was extremely damaging for the wildlife as pirates and buccaneers took giant tortoises aboard for food
24% of plant species and 50% of vertebrate species are still considered as endangered due to human activity in earlier times
Clandestine fishing of black coral, lobster, shark fin, sea cucumber and sea horse is incredibly destructive to the marine life
Population growth caused by tourism is putting a strain on the unique and fragile environment
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