The Rarest Wildlife Inhabit the Pristine Islands of Galapagos

A cruise to the Galapagos is an unforgettable experience.  Situated in the South Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands are a protected marine sanctuary.  The pristine islands have a volcanic lava terrain, rugged mountains, unique beaches and vibrant coral reefs.  The islands’ unspoiled nature serves as a natural habitat for the rarest wildlife.  Daily excursions to different islands explore the vibrant marine life and the diverse wildlife.  The coastlines, nature reserves and scenic trails reveal the giant tortoises, land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, brown pelicans and many more unique creatures.

Galapagos Islands

A cruise to the Galapagos is a profoundly memorable experience.  The Galapagos Islands, part of the South American country of Ecuador, are a protected marine sanctuary.  The famed islands are a natural habitat for exotic flora and rare wildlife.  The Galapagos’ topography comprises volcanic lava formations, rugged mountains and unique beaches.  Pristine and vibrant coral reefs exist off the coast of Galapagos Islands.  The Bartolomé Island boasts an awe-inspiring landscape of multi-colored volcanic rock formations.  The Pinnacle Rock, created by the erosion of lava, is the most photographed landmark in the Galapagos Islands.  The highlights of the Galapagos are its inhabitants, the most fascinating and the rarest wildlife.

Giant Tortoise

The Galapagos Archipelago is a natural habitat for the giant tortoises.  The Galapagos giant tortoises are the world’s largest tortoises with an average lifespan of over 100 years.  They have a dome-shaped shell, light-brown or grey colored.  They feed on grasses, leaves, berries and cactus.  The Giant Tortoises Reserve is located on the San Cristobal Island, on the eastern side of the Galapagos Archipelago.  La Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado is a research center and protected forest for the repopulation of the giant tortoises.  In the center of the Galapagos Archipelago, Santa Cruz Island is a popular destination to view diverse species of birds and the giant tortoises.  We visit the Scalesia forest and the historic Charles Darwin Research Center where we learn about the hatching process of the tortoises. 

Galapagos Land Iguana

The Galapagos land iguana resides across the islands of the Galapagos.  The lizard is one of three species endemic to the Galapagos Islands.  This large yellow lizard has a spiny crest and clawed feet.  We explore the Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill), situated in the northern part of Santa Cruz Island.  A guided walking excursion follows the nature trail and the coastline, natural habitats of the land iguanas and of diverse species of birds and marine iguanas.  A visit to the North Seymour Island reveals a rugged coastline and diverse terrain.  We encounter magnificent land iguana and a large colony of marine iguanas soaking the sunlight on rocks of the shore.

Blue-Footed Booby

The blue-footed boobies are stunning seabirds, distinguished by their blue feet, resulting from carotenoid pigments absorbed from their diet of fish.  Their mating ritual is quite interesting and involves showing their bright blue feet to attract potential mates.  They congregate on the rugged coastlines and nest on the ground, without making a nest.  The North Seymour Island is inhabited by large colonies of birds, including the blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds.  Exploring the island, we follow the circular nature trail and observe nesting blue-footed boobies with their baby chicks, standing over them to protect them from the sun.

Galapagos Albatross

Situated in the southeastern part of the Galapagos Archipelago, Española Island has a large population of diverse species of birds.  The Punta Suarez is an astonishing gathering place of wildlife.  We encounter albatrosses, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies and Galapagos hawk.  We observe the courtship dance of the albatrosses that consists of bowing and beak clacking.  Toward the end of the trail, we observe many albatross chicks, fluffy and grey-colored.  They will grow into beautiful adults.  The wave albatross, also known as the Galapagos albatross, has a white-yellow head and a large wingspan.

Brown Pelican

The brown pelican may be spotted across the Galapagos Islands.  It is a large water bird with an oversized bill and large wingspan.  Brown pelicans breed throughout the year and both parents nurture their young chicks.  We encounter the brown pelican on the Rabida Island, a unique island with a rocky coastline and red lava formations.  We discover a gorgeous red sand beach and a majestic brown pelican resting on the rocky coastline.