Galapagos

Highlights

The Galapagos archipelago is a unique and timeless world, where you can walk among reptiles and swim with sea lions. The charm of the islands is that all the wildlife is fearless. In fact you will find yourself stepping over nesting boobies, being licked by curious seal pups and eye-balling penguins underwater. There are no nasty predators nor tropical diseases. Being on the Equator you can go there all year round.

There are few inhabitants and ninety seven percent of the archipelago has been declared a national park. The scenery is an arid volcanic landscape, but varies from island to island, and with lush forested highlands. The beaches are some of the finest in the world, though the sea lions have grabbed the best spots. Whilst iguanas sit motionless on the black lava giving an out of this world feeling.

• Santa Cruz and nearby central islands
  Sealions, research centre and your chance to see giant tortoises.
• San Cristóbal and nearby eastern islands
  Boobies, frigatebirds, albatross and impressive snorkel sites.
• Santiago and nearby northern islands
  Lava flows, sunken craters and tide-pools teeming with life.
• Isabela and nearby western islands
  Majestic scenery, crater lakes, penguins and flightless cormorants.