Located in the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles west of continental Ecuador, the Galapagos is an archipelago of 13 large islands, and more than a 100 smaller islands by which only 5 are inhabited. Scattered around the equator, these enchanted islands, have been suspended in time, this truly spectacular place is today as it once was, millions of years ago.

The islands have a magical and captivating past. History portrays the Galapagos, as a haven for pirates, many of the islands hold testimony to this, being named by buccaneer Ambrose Cowley in 1684, in adulation to those who sailed the seas and aided the ‘pirates cause’.

Today, the Galapagos is more famously home to some of the world’s most spectacular wildlife. In particular ‘Darwin’ named after Charles Darwin T. this island epitomises the dramatic and varied landscape habituated by the bird, animal and marine life that can be found here. Fur seals, frigates, marine iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, sea lions, whales, marine turtles, red footed and Nazca boobies can all be seen.

The island of Santa Cruz is host to the Charles Darwin Research Centre, and this island is home to Lonesome George, famous in his own right, George is the last tortoise of his species, the Galapagos Giant Tortoise. He is currently resident with two females of a similar species in hope that he will breed, so far Lonesome George seems to be happy concentrating on what’s for dinner.

Spanish is now mainly spoken on the Galapagos Islands, the name itself derived from a Spanish term given to that of the giant Land Tortoises which inhabit the islands. As part of the Ecudador’s national parks system, nature and man have created an excellent example of mutual existence, that can be appreciated through both its local people and the tourism that is welcomed here.