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The Galapagos Island chain, situated close to 600 miles west of the continent of Latin America, is quite possibly the absolute best area to observe evolution in all of its purely natural beauty.

Called, in Spanish, after the animal that is without a doubt the most popular of the island archipelago: The Galapagos Tortoise; the Galapagos boasts numerous groups of little dainty islands which are born of undersea volcanoes eruptions.

Placed entirely on the equator, the Galapagos gets all of the bonuses of such a overseas position in that the 16 islands have bright and sunny weather conditions all year long! If that wasn’t good enough they are on the crossroads for two vitally important trade winds: The North East winds (coming from North & Central America) and the South East trade winds (from South America). All these winds are in all probability precisely what started the influx of sustainable life around the island chain – and are thought to have been the reason for the huge woods covering the higher mountains of the islands.

These island of significant natural charm have led to the evolution a number of diverse, and extraordinary, habitats which have in turn helped (or otherwise forced) the native wildlife, both flora and fauna as well, to change in such a way that basically has many scientists surprised.

The rest of the Galapagos island chain is yet another scenario of extraordinary, not to mention really amazing fauna.

When is the best time to see the Galapagos?

There are two periods: December to May is hot and moist and June to December is usually dry and cool. Annual rainfall in the lower regions is 2-4in and the air temperatures can vary around 69°-84°F/21°-29°C.

The islands’ climate is dependent on sea flow. The rapid climatic transformation a result of El Niño is usually harmful: as much as 45% of sea lions and marine iguanas could pass away in the course of this time.

The convergence of 3 significant oceanic currents produces an incredible mixture of ocean life to this islands. Despite being situated in the equator, the Galapagos micro-climate is remarkably dry. During the cool period, the Humboldt Current produces very cold waters, which usually creates thermal inversions that obstruct rain fall.

At this time, a fine mist called “garua” is created as cool, wet air just above the water meets a superior layer of air that is heated up by the warm sun.

‘El Niño’ can be described as phenomenon that occurs roughly every 5-7 years. The south trade winds slacken and cause the sea temperatures to increase considerably and cause stormy weather and rainfall.

The Galapagos were discovered by chance at 1535 by Father Tomas Berlanga, priest of Panama.

Because of the long distances involved, the only practical approach to explore the Galapagos is by live-aboard ships, which traveling between islands, largely at night, and create different stops each day. More than 80 boats are licensed to operate from the archipelago and there are an infinite number of combinations of stops and paths. Most cruises go ashore two times per day: 10 full days on the boat typically means 20 shore landings, 10-20 snorkels, and several panga rides (pangas are small, open outboard-powered boats) to about 10 distinct islands.

Exploring on your own is considerably harder. Getting around separately is tricky and all traffic must be accompanied by a licensed naturalist guide at all landing sites. However four islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Floreana and Isabela) have hotels of varying dimensions and standards and a few vessel operators provide day-trips.

Some cruises leave from Baltra (the dock is a five-minute drive from the air terminal).

GalapagosInformation.com provides an assortment of tailor-made live-aboard tours on a lot of different vessels carrying from 4 to 16 passengers.

Wildlife activities differ greatly, and each month has its highlights. For instance, green turtles start their egg-laying in January; penguins socialize with swimmers on Bartolome mainly from May until the end of September; humpback whales begin to arrive at June; July through the end of September is the best period for many seabird action; peak pupping for sea lions is approximately August, while their pups play aqua-aerobics with snorkelers at November; and December is the month to get hatching giant tortoise eggs. So, always there is something happening.

The hot, humid, somewhat rainy season (with occasional tropical showers) is from December to May (March and April are generally hottest and wettest). The seas tend to be calmer and clearer now of year (using 60ft-80ft visibility average) and the water temperature averages 79° F (26°C), therefore this period is best for snorkeling.

The cool, drier, windier season (with intermittent drizzle or mist) is from June to November. Sea temperatures at the time of year fall to as much as 66F (19C) and visibility often goes down to 30ft-50ft, whilst sea swells may make some landings catchy.

Each of the Galapagos’ official guest sites has something unique to offer, but travelers are going to be able to experience the greatest hits — sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, endemic birds — about the vast majority of islands. Listed below are a few of the most popular spots.

Santa Cruz features the Galapagos’ most populous “town,” Puerto Ayora, also will be the island chain’s most important tourism hub. The island offers people the sole chance to experience the Galapagos’ inside high-lands, among a couple areas to spot giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The Charles Darwin research laboratory, a visit to which is contained on each cruise, is also situated there.

Champion Islet’s waters transform into a aquarium teeming with life through September and October, when the water temperatures drop. Sea plants thrive, which brings the marine monsters, which in turn brings from the sea birds. Sea lions, especially the interested juveniles, frequently zip past and around the awkward individuals in masks and fins.

South Plaza encircles less than one-tenth of a mile in area and is among the Galapagos’ tiniest visitor websites. Nevertheless, the tiny island, which was formed by volcanic uplift, makes a powerful impression with its color-changing ground vegetation, sea birds and colony of Galapagos land iguanas. The effective male iguanas can be seen standing guard before a cactus tree, waiting patiently to provide a hungry female using a piece of prickly fruit.

Rabida: creates a bold statement when you arrive at its iron-rich red shore. Just inland is a brackish lagoon where people frequently visit flamingos, heads plunged submerged to scoop up crustaceans and algae using their bowl-like beaks.

Espanola is the southernmost island, home to the famous waved albatross, a child-sized bird with an eight-foot wingspan. According to the Galapagos Conservancy, every year the entire world’s population of adult Waved Albatrosses returns to Espanola throughout the nesting season from April to December. “Spiritual expertise” is a common descriptor.

Fernandina, the Galapagos’ youngest and westernmost island is famous for its not-infrequent volcanic eruptions, the most recent of which was in 2009. It is located at the locus of the “hot spot” which created, and is still forming and creating, the Galapagos. As people step across lava flows and around the massive population of land iguanas, they gain a firsthand understanding of the geological origins of the islands.

Floreana is home of the Galapagos’ very famous barrel-mailbox at Post Office Bay. For centuries, those visiting the famed Ecuadorian isles relied upon the unspoken duty of pirates and whalers to get letters to a planned destination. A mariner would render a dispatch, then select through the pile for missives he could personally send (travel program permitting). The tradition continues today; cruise passengers visiting the website can depart and take postcards from a (modern) barrel. Floreana is home to the Galapagos’ famous barrel-mailbox at Post Office Bay. For centuries, those seeing the famed Ecuadorian isles relied on the unspoken responsibility of pirates and whalers to Puerto Villamil and Nearby Areas – Isabela Island Cruises take in a variety of intriguing things around the large island. Puerto Villamil is a little vent in the south east of the island, and it’s home to the majority of the island’s population. You can take pleasure in this fishing-community vibe, sample tasty freshly caught fish, participate with all the merry children, shop for souvenirs in the colorful stores, and admire the islets that dot the shore. Stroll along the boardwalk, leading through mangroves, and see flamingos, gallinules, whimbrels, and more. The Tortoise Breeding Center sits at the end of the boardwalk, helping conserve sea tortoises. The harbor is frequently full of little luxury yachts and other sailing boats, many of which carry passengers on exciting Galapagos cruises.

Many visitors in Galapagos are surprised to be greeted by desert-like vegetation–most are expecting a continuation of the lush greenery that they observed on mainland Ecuador. In reality, the majority of the archipelago’s land area is covered by the brown and gray vegetation frequently found in deserts. The Galapagos Islands are situated in the Pacific Dry Belt, also in typical ages only the greatest altitudes of the larger islands receive enough rainfall to support tropical plant life.

In Geological terms, the islands are youthful, and a lot of the island’s vegetation reflects this; many species seem to be in the middle of the evolutionary changes, which makes classifying them a difficult endeavor. To date, the islands are thought to be home to between 552 and 614 native species of vascular plants and roughly 825 introduced species, the majority introduced by people. More than 100 of the introduced species have become established in the wild, with many of them exceptionally invasive and of big concern. Three introduced plant species are eradicated. Mainland Ecuador, on the other hand, has approximately 20,000 species. The disproportion between species number on the Islands and the mainland highlights the reality that the Galapagos Islands are separated from the continent by a hostile saltwater barrier decreasing the potential for arrival and, once a plant has arrived, institution is tough because of the harsh environment. It is worthy of notice that over 30% of indigenous plant species found in Galapagos are endemic (not found anywhere else on earth).

The flora of Galapagos can be grouped into three major vegetation zones: the coastal zone, the more arid zone, and the humid highlands.

Coastal plants are observed in the narrow zone close to the shore and are distinctive due to their tolerance to salty conditions. Mangrove trees are one of the most common plants found in this zone, and they serve a significant function as the breeding sites for many birds, such as pelicans and frigate birds. They also give much needed shade areas for iguanas and sea lions, in addition to refuges for sea turtles.

The dry region has become the most extensive zone in Galapagos and is comprised of plant species that are highly adapted to drought-like conditions, such as succulent cacti and leafless shrubs that blossom and grow leaves just in the short rainy season.

Located above the dry zones are the very green and lush, humid zones. The humid zone is only located on the larger, higher islands. The majority of islands in the archipelago do not rise in elevation above the arctic zone.

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