It’s hard to think of the Galapagos Islands without a feeling sense of foreboding awe, not very different from a twisted Genesis concoction. Charles Darwin may have contributed more to this preconception than anything else; his travel logs on the island was at times morose or appalled, and you couldn’t help but picture the islands beneath an all-encompassing dark cloud of terror. That’s a shame, since the Galapagos is the most fertile exotic ecosystem you may yet visit in your life, and you’ll be so amazed at the stark natural contradictions on the island that the curious cat in you can’t help but be lured to stay.
The islands rest on a volcanic sea belt, and yet it is thriving with life, and what a strange but pleasant natural landscape it has. You might even mistake the ubiquitous iguanas for living rocks, and be even more surprised that the creatures are less excited by your presence than you are to theirs. The sight may be unsettling; even Darwin himself considered these oddities as guardians of hell, or something to that effect. For you though, it can be a truly exotic experience, and it can persist throughout your entire stay: swim alongside sea lions, penguins, mantas, turtles, and schools of reef fish, all perfectly comfortable with keeping you in close company. Near the shore, you’ll have a hard time evading the iguanas, boobies, lightfoot crabs, and sea lions which thrive on the beaches. In fact, one out of four species of wildlife you encounter on the island are unique to it, and you’ll find few places where whale sharks, hammerheads, and penguins swim in the same general space.
Probably the best way to experience the Galapagos is on a cruise, even though land-based tours and scuba diving expeditions are offered. Since this part of the world is becoming the average cruiser’s favorite port stop, there are plenty of boats onsite which accommodate guided tours, from local sloops to yachts and cruise ships. The commercial tours roughly share the same itineraries, so the ship amenities, onboard services, tour price, and voyage lengths (four days to two weeks) will be your primary considerations when it comes to booking your expedition. Take note that the higher accommodation classes also offer better tour experiences, with experienced crew and naturalists for guides. Those in the midrange categories often have bilingual guides who hold university degrees.
A quick walkthrough of the Galapagos takes about six days if you don’t want to miss out on something memorable, and there are plenty of places to visit here. Espanola is arguably the most notable; its natural wonders abound, from the blow hole to the multitudes of nesting boobies and the albatross colonies. Bartolome is popular for its spectacular view, and Florean for Flour Beach and flamingos. An entirely different world exists on Black Tortuga Bay, with a mangrove forest thick with sea turtles, manta rays, and sharks (!). The Galapagos is more blessed than cursed, as it turns out, and with a tropical climate which persists throughout the year (the islands rest on the equator), you can’t help but wonder if this isn’t a prehistoric Garden of Eden in itself.
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