The Galapagos Islands bring to mind spectacular scenery, unusual animals and a journey into a time that seems to be both standing still and evolving all at once.
Known as the “Enchanted Isles,” they are rich in wildlife – some of which is known only to exist in the Galapagos – and there is no other place like it on Earth. The islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site and while there, people should look, observe and even be in awe of what you are seeing, but be mindful to keep a respectful distance from the animals and don’t trample the plants. Most people go there as part of a tour and the guide will certainly remind people of this on a regular basis.
Going there, tho, takes a bit of planning. The Galapagos Islands are 1,000km off the coast of Ecuador. It’s not exactly like visiting Miami or some other tourist-heavy destination. But there are ways to do it and get the most out of your trip and here’s two of them. One is through Metropolitan Touring, which has 7- and 10-day travel packages to the Galapagos Islands.
One 7-day, 6-night package includes private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Quito 2-nights of accommodation at a premium hotel in Quito, a scenic tour of Quito, Shared airport transfers in Galapagos and domestic airfare to/from the Galapagos Islands.
Another is a 7-day, 6-night family cruise from Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Among the 10-day, 9-night packages is one that explores the Best of the Mashpi Rainforest and Galapagos.
An upscale choice is aboard a yacht, the Yacht La Pinta Galapagos Cruise. This is a luxury cruise around the islands with excursions. On board is a glass-bottom boat, kayaks, snorkeling equipment and large and comfortable pangas. It even has a Cordon-Bleu gastronomy director for excellent meals.
The Galapagos name comes from the several large tortoises – galápagos in Spanish – after the bishop of Panama, Tomás de Berlanga, marveled at them when he discovered the islands in 1535. The tortoises are one of the main attractions to this day, in part because of their size and also because they are believed to live up to 150 years old.
There are many more animals there, too: penguins, swimming iguanas, birds and fur seals among them. And in early 2023, the first recorded pink iguana hatchlings were found in the Galapagos. So true to its roots, the place keeps evolving.
There is also amazing plant life, from a cactus forest to guava trees. The landscape is diverse with the ocean, active volcanos and a forest.
The Galapagos Islands are a dream destination for adventure seekers, nature lovers and really just about anyone who enjoys being outside and seeing natural wonders. For today’s social media types and influencers, there’s enough photo and video content to load up one’s Instagram or TikTok accounts for weeks, if not months.
Being part of a tour enables people to see more of the Galapagos Islands tho they could ever do on their own. And yes, you can visit the Galapagos Islands without being on a tour. Some of them, anyway. Four islands – Santa Cruz, San Cristobal (a.k.a. Chatham), Isabela, and Floreana (also known as Charles or Santa Marta) – can be explored without being on a tour.
But that’s like going snorkeling as opposed to diving – you can see what’s near the surface but are missing out on so much more of its depths. That’s why we recommend if you are putting forth the effort to go to the Galapagos Islands in the first place, take full advantage of it by booking a tour.
In all there are 13 “appropriate” volcanic islands (larger than four square miles) and six smaller islands along with at least a hundred islets. Each has its own atmosphere, landscape and wildlife. And they are well worth a visit.
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