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[Excerpts from Adventure Guide to Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, by Peter D. Krahenbuhl] Set far off the coast of northwestern South America in the Pacific Ocean, the Galápagos Islands are often called the “Islands Born of Fire” due to their volcanic origin.
For those of us lucky enough to travel to the Galapagos Islands – one of the most magical places on Earth – one thing that we inevitably come to understand is the importance of conservation in protecting the incredible wildlife that calls this world famous archipelago home.
The Galapagos Islands archipelago may easily be considered one of the most interesting and unique places to visit on earth. The question is, why? Or rather, how did that come to be the case? Aren’t the islands just another set of equatorial, tropical paradises, surrounded by endless beaches and coral reefs?
A visit to the Galapagos Islands can provide one of the most magical life-changing experiences for anyone, not the least of which was its influence on Charles Darwin and the development of his theory of evolution.
The Galapagos Islands, arguably the most famous islands in the world, have a rich, fairly recent history filled with whalers, pirates and fur-seal traders, followed by adventurous tourists and those wanting to escape the life of mainland “civilization.”
In Part 1 of my interview with Executive Director of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA), Matt Kareus, we discussed the organization’s mission and role in the Galapagos, and we took a dive into the implications of climate change for the archipelago.
Hacienda Zuleta, a colonial-era working farm in the Andean Highlands, sits at 9,600 feet in the Imbabura Province of Ecuador. Guests on select Natural Habitat Galapagos departures enjoy a 2-night stay at Zuleta, the best place to view wildlife in the region, including wild Andean condors and spectacled bears.
Looking for any excuse to write about one of my favorite destinations on the entire planet, the Galapagos Islands, I recently caught up with my friend and Executive Director of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA), Matt Kareus.
In our first two Fun Facts articles we discovered some Galapagos Islands Fun Facts for Kids, as well as interesting characteristics of Galapagos geography, conservation and wildlife in part two. In this article we learn about the mother country of the famous archipelago—Ecuador! 1. Where in the World?
In our last article in a series of Galapagos Islands fun facts, we learned about “enchanted” islands born of fire, as well as who discovered them and other interesting facts about the national park and island geography.
There is absolutely nowhere else in the world where you can experience such incredible nature, wildlife and educational opportunities than in the Galapagos Islands.
One of the most magical, real life places on earth for children is the Galapagos Islands.
