Galapagos Islands, however you want it.

Welcome to the Galapagos Islands, a group of 18 stunning islands located almost 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador, right on the equator. The landscape here may be rocky and barren, but it is fascinating and beautiful in its own unique way. These volcanic islands are geologically intriguing, with some of the youngest still in the process of formation. With 97.5% of the land area designated as a national park, and the surrounding 70,000 square kilometers of ocean declared a marine reserve and a whale sanctuary, it's no wonder that the Galapagos Islands have been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a biosphere reserve. But what makes these islands truly special is the wildlife. The lack of natural predators has caused the species here to evolve without fear of visitors, allowing tourists to interact with the playful penguins and seals, friendly marine iguanas and Darwin’s finches, colorful blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, sally lightfoot crabs, and the iconic giant Galapagos tortoise. However, human development is having negative effects on the animals and the islands themselves. Alien species are taking over and destroying the habitats necessary for native wildlife to thrive.