Tips for Visiting Galapagos Islands You Need to Know

Are you planning a trip to go to one of the most unique places in this world but do not know which one it is? Are you a person who loves nature and wants a vacation in an all natural and one of a kind place? Visiting Galapagos Islands should be your number one destination to explore! The Galapagos Islands are unique and most famed for a lot of reasons. One of them is Charles Darwin. He was inspired by the Galapagos Islands and formed his theory, “The Darwin Finches”. Darwin discovered 12 species of finches which he thought belonged to different families because of the major difference in appearance. He studied their characteristics, their attributes, etc. However, he came to the conclusion that all those birds were finches. The difference in those finches was only caused because of a few factors such as eating habits and what not. This caused Darwin to form his evolutionary theory. Not only had the evolution of animals intrigued him, but also the plants and the flowers.

The Galapagos Islands are also quite famous as a “museum of evolution”. This is because the Galapagos Islands do not only comprise of one island, it comprises of many different islands. All of those islands have different kinds of flora and fauna which is what makes the Galapagos so unique and attractive. The differences can be noticed by just visiting the other island. To this day, visiting the Galapagos Island is on top of everyone’s travel list, especially for biologists and Darwin’s staunch followers and enthusiasts.

What to See In the Galapagos Islands?

The question which arises for people who know nothing about the Galapagos Islands but still want to travel to it is what you will see in the Galapagos Islands. Visitors and travelers should not be worried about seeing anything less than what they expect. Visiting the Galapagos Islands truly lives up to everyone’s expectations. It can even be a romantic getaway location if you want to travel with your partner.

Here are a few things you can see if you visit the Galapagos Islands:

• Going to visit the Galapagos Islands, you cannot miss the opportunity to seethe tortoises. Weighting up to almost 900 pounds and having a life expectancy of more than 150 years, these tortoises are truly a great sight to see. Especially since you will most probably be viewing these majestic creatures in their very own territories.
• Another must see the site is Charles Darwin’s own research station. You get to learn more about Charles Darwin’s work and how his work is still continued in this day and age to preserve and protect many species of animals and plants.
• Birds. Yes, you see birds flying above your head every day. However, the birds in the Galapagos Islands are not just ANY birds. These bird species are unique only to the Galapagos Islands. In fact, each and every island which makes up Galapagos has different species of birds. Cormorants, frigate birds, albatrosses, etc. Do not miss out on the birdwatching and make sure to keep a pair of binoculars in your luggage before you visit the Galapagos Islands.
• Scuba diving in the ocean is also something you should have on your to-do list. The water is at least 80 feet deep and crystal clear. You can try scuba diving in such an area if only you are an experienced diver or swimmer. However, if you are not an experienced swimmer, you can always dip your legs in the clear water and enjoy the scenery before you.
• Visit the lava tubes on the Santa Cruz Island which are sprinkled on the island in the form of cave-like structures. Those structures, as the name suggests, are made from lava which is solidified. Visitors and tourists can roam or check out those lava tubes on their own. For more details and history, they can consult with their tour guide.
• When visiting the Galapagos Islands, do not lose the opportunity to visit the Chinese Hat Island. The Chinese Hat Island is quite small and tiny. You can scuba dive, swim or snorkel in the water surrounding the island. You can view the majestic volcanic formations on the Chinese Hat Island.
• For people who love beaches or just water bodies in general, Tortuga Bay is the place to visit when visiting the Galapagos Islands. Crystal clear water with soft and almost white sand make Tortuga Bay one of the number 1 destinations to visit in Galapagos. It is perfect if you want to spend your time sight seeing or spending it with a loved one or exploring the different kinds of animals on the Tortuga Bay.
• Don’t miss out on the Wall of Tears in Puerto Villamil. While a local tour guide does give you the history and details, many people enjoy Wall of Tears in Puerto Villamil because of the route leading to the Wall of Tears as well as the multiple animal species they come across.
• Las Loberias is not only famous for its exotic beauty. The whole beach is full of sea lions. You can watch little clumsy sea lion pups as well as and you can see the adult sea lions that are fishing and swimming. You can even swim with friendly sea lions. However, be careful as the male sea lions may sometimes get enraged and annoyed.

Summary

There are a lot of interesting things to see in the Galapagos Islands. The island itself is made up of 13 larger islands and 6 smaller islands. Make sure to plan the essentials such as binoculars, swim suits or even underwater cameras. Keep in mind that you will need to hire a local guide which is required by the law in Ecuador.