This archipelago of volcanic islands is a province of Ecuador, located approximately 972 miles off of the country’s western shoreline in the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 40,000 people call these islands home, in a land that lies entirely within Ecuador’s national park system. The archipelago received its name in reference to the giant land tortoises that inhabit many of the islands. The northernmost and southernmost islands are separated by a distance of 132 miles, with two of the islands lying on the equator.

The Galapagos Islands have been made famous by the many species found only in this isolated part of the world, and by the studies of Charles Darwin, whose theories on evolution were born while he explored the Galapagos aboard the Beagle.

One of the most popular ways to explore the wonders of these islands is by ship. Everything from commercial cruise ship to private charter boats offer trips to the Galapagos, with many opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Baltra

Home to one of only two airports that service the Galapagos Islands, Baltra once served as a United States Air Force base during World War II. It was used to provide protection for the Panama Canal and scout for enemy submarines. During the military occupation of the island, Baltra’s Land Iguanas became extinct. Luckily, many of them had been relocated to the neighboring North Seymour Island, and a breeding and repopulation project has brought the Baltra Land Iguana back to its native island.

Darwin

Only 0.4 square miles, this tiny islet named for Charles Darwin is home to fur seals, Swallow-tailed Gulls, frigates, Marine Iguanas, whales, sea lions, marine turtles, and Red-Footed and Nazca Boobies.

Fernandina

The youngest of the Galapagos Islands, Fernandina is still experiencing volcanic activity. The island is home to the famous Cormorants, Galapagos Penguins, and Marine Iguanas. The iguanas on this island are the only ones that will change color during breeding season.

Genovesa Island

Named for Christopher Columbus’ birthplace of Genoa, Italy, this island is nicknamed “the bird island” for all of the various winged species that can be found here. Prince Philip’s Steps offers a plateau for bird watching, and native species include red-footed boobies, lava gulls, doves, storm petrels, noddy terns, and Darwin finches. At Darwin Bay, swallow-tailed gulls and frigatebirds can be found.

Isabela

This is the largest island in the Galapagos chain, with an area of roughly 1,792 square miles. It is the home to the third-largest human settlement of the Galapagos, Puerto Villamil, as well as to the Marine Iguanas, Cormorants, Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Hawks, Galapagos Tortoises, Galapagos Doves, Darwin Finches, and Sally Lightfoot Crabs.

North Seymour

This island, just north of the Baltra Airport, is home to one of the largest populations of frigatebirds and nesting blue-footed boobies on earth. Here, the frigatebirds flaunt their massive, 90-inch wingspans in impressive shows of aerial acrobatics, while the mating rituals of the blue-footed boobies include dancing, whistling, and honking.

Santa Cruz

The largest human population in the Galapagos can be found on Santa Cruz, as well as the Charles Darwin Research Station and a tortoise breeding center. Black Turtle Cove is surrounded by mangroves and provides a mating area for rays, small sharks, and sea turtles. Cerro Dragon not only provides a home to local iguanas, but to the famous flamingo lagoon.

For the true nature lover, the friendly and inquisitive animals of the Galapagos Islands provide a spectacular vacation opportunity that is completely out of the ordinary. While not a typical tourist or business destination, the Galapagos Islands offer a rare, firsthand look into the research of Charles Darwin and his theories on natural selection.