Straddling the equator some 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are a nature lover’s paradise. Charles Darwin’s infamous visit to the volcanic islands inspired his groundbreaking theory of evolution. Darwin discovered that similar animals perfectly adapted to their differing island environments.

Today, wildlife watchers from all over the world come to the Galapagos to experience the natural diversity, enjoy the beautiful tropical scenery, and of course, capture amazing photographs of the native creatures who call the Enchanted Islands home.

Here, we share five of our favorite animals we’ve seen—and you’ll hopefully see when you join us—during our Galapagos Magic photo tour.

Blue-Footed Boobies

These aptly called birds are thought to be named  after the Spanish word “bobo,” which means stupid. Early European visitors must have thought the birds’ clumsy looking mating dances, where the male birds show off their feet to prospective mates, were a bit silly.

Marine Iguanas

Found only on the Galapagos Islands, these reptiles often sport white “wigs” of salt expelled from glands near their noses. These unique creatures aren’t known for their looks. You can find iguanas of varying sizes, shapes, and colors on every island.

Giant Tortoises

The world’s largest tortoise, the giant tortoise has an average lifespan of 100 years. The oldest one on record lived to be 152. The Spanish word for tortoise is galapago. It’s thought the Spanish sailors who discovered the archipelago actually named the islands after these abundant creatures.

Sea Lions

The most common sea mammal on the archipelago, these sea lions aren’t considered true seals, because they can rotate their hind flipper under their pelvic girdle. They also lack long, finger-like claws. The unique configuration of their pelvic girdles enable them to gallop across land— and reach speeds exceeding that of a person running on rocky terrain.

Waved Albatross

The largest bird found on the archipelago, the waved albatross spends most of its time at sea, but comes ashore to breed on the Galapagos Islands. Like swans, these birds mate for life. And like the blue-footed booby, they perform elaborate mating rituals to attract partners.

Experience Darwin’s Discoveries Up Close

Now that you know a bit more about these amazing animals, it’s time to see them for yourself. Join us on our next luxury expedition for a Galapagos photo tour like no other. Your experience includes:

• Accommodations aboard the small luxury boat, the Beluga
• Daily photography instruction and one-one-one coaching with Ossian Lindholm, one of Argentina’s most renowned nature photographers
• Excursions to the best places at the best times and with the islands’ most expert naturalist

Find out more about our Galapagos photo tour.

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