It was Darwin's Origin of Species that made these islands
so famous, but the wildlife here has made them absolutely legendary. Whether it’s the comical Blue-footed Boobies, the
stately Giant Tortoises or Marine Iguanas gliding through the water, the
creatures that inhabit this famous archipelago are as engaging as they are
unique.
Cruising the Western Galápagos gets you close to it all, in all sorts of ways. You can kayak below the
bird cliffs, hike across the hills to see giant tortoises and lava lizards in the wild –
even swim with penguins, snorkel with sea lions and spot sea turtles; all guided as you go by local naturalists guides who've spent their lifetime studying this pristine natural laboratory.
Of course, there's so much more to see and do here: visit tidal
pools and lava fields, Pinnacle Rock and saltwater lagoons; or hike along
lava tunnels and back to the beginning of time.
On Floreana Island, visit the Fausto Llerena
Breeding Centre for the chance to see both the domed tortoise and the iconic saddleback tortoise after which the islands were named; Post Office Bay – one of the few spots in the archipelago that is visited for its human history; and Champion Islet for some of
the best snorkeling found anywhere in this remarkable archipelago.