Charles Darwin formulated his theory of evolution after visiting the Galápagos Islands in 1835. Darwin and the HMS Beagle only spent 5 weeks there, but the data he collected while exploring the islands gave way to one of the greatest contributions known to science in solving the mystery of how and why evolution occurs. In 1839 Darwin came up with the answer, and he called it natural selection. Darwin found the islands to be particularly inspiring and wrote in his book, "Voyage of The Beagle", which is pretty much his diary of the trip, 'The natural history of this archipelago is very remarkable: it seems to be a little world within itself.' With that being said, a trip to the Galápagos Islands should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Sitting 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean, the volcanic archipelagos, which consist of 13 major islands and 7 smaller ones, are a province of Ecuador. It’s one of the world’s best destinations for viewing wildlife. Since its terrain is so isolated, it shelters a vast diversity of animal and plant species that are found nowhere else on the planet. Today we will look at just a small fraction of the many reasons why the Galápagos Islands are worth the hype.

20 Long Live The Galapagos Tortoises

The longest-lived vertebrates are the giant tortoises which live on an average over 100 years. Today the Giant tortoise's conservation status is endangered and they can only be found two places in the entire world. One place is on the Seychelles Islands where the Aldabra tortoises are found. The only other place is the Galapagos Islands where the Galapagos Tortoises are found. These slow-moving, gentle giants can exceed 5 feet in length and weigh as much as 550 pounds. They lead a very simple life, napping and sunbathing for almost 16 hours a day, then graze on cactus, leaves and grass for the rest. Amazingly these creatures can survive almost a year without drinking or eating due to their extremely slow metabolism and internal structure.

19 The Ultimate Scuba Diving Challenge

Though not a place for the novice diver due to the extremely wild currents, this legendary dive destination is considered by experienced divers to be the pinnacle in their diving career. Just some of the unique highlights to see during a dive might be hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, sea lions, penguins, seals, eagle rays, marine iguanas and golden rays just to name a few. The island waters are a huge protected marine reserve and free from most commercial fishing. Deep sea up swelling happens around the Galapagos since they are not connected to the continent and this, in turn, makes the waters rich in nutrients and thrive with life.

18 Lava Lizards Everywhere

The most abundant reptile on the Galapagos Islands is the Lava Lizard. They kinda look like miniature iguanas and are easily identified by their pointy heads, long tails and small size. Interestingly, if they are caught by their tail, they can let it go and grow a new one. Females are ready to mate at only nine months, where males take as long as three years to become mature. Males are brighter colored than the females with gold stripes or yellow specks. They live in large groups on top of the dry lava, hence their name. There are seven different species of the Lava Lizard on the Galapagos.

17 The Dining Scene Is A Seafood Connoisseurs Dream

When you talk about an adventurous culinary territory, you have to include the Galapagos Islands. Being in the heart of one of the most abundant marine ecosystems in the world, it's not surprising the majority of entrees are seafood based. Even though exotic fruits and vegetables from Ecuador give the meals a local flavor, the island staple is fresh seafood. Ceviche, which is one or more types of seafood with some onions and thinly sliced tomatoes, in a bowl, covered in lime juice and eaten with a spoon, cold, is the most famous of the island dishes. Some of the islands even grow organic coffee and provide freshly squeezed juices and cocktails.

16 Three Colorful Cousins Of Boobies

Bold in blue, dashing in red and masked and merciless, these three types of Boobies found on the islands are very different in their appearance and behavior, yet they all have one thing in common. They all plunge dive into the open water for their food. They are pros in the water and air and can spot small fish like anchovies, mackerel and sardines from very high up. They dive bomb into the water like missiles at speeds of 60 miles per hour. As graceful as they are diving, they are quite the opposite when it comes to walking around on the land. Their name was taken from the Spanish word “bobo” meaning clumsy which about says it all.

15 Darwin’s Finches Are Something Special

Galápagos finches are also known as Darwin’s Finches. There are around fifteen species of these passerine birds found spread amongst the islands. Passerine birds make up more than half of all bird species but these finches are special. When Darwin discovered them on his voyage to the islands he noticed that the finches were different from island to island. The finches beaks in form and function changed from island to island which is why they became known for their remarkable diversity. Even though Darwin was unaware at the time, the significance of the Galápagos finches would be major in developing his theory of evolution by natural selection.

14 I Wanna Iguana

Snorkelers and divers will most certainly have plenty of company in the waters off the islands. Marine iguanas are abundant and found almost anywhere in the Galapagos. They are great swimmers and after a cool dip, they can be found lying on the rocks, warming up in the sun. Believed by scientists to have evolved into the marine iguanas they are today by rafting over water from South America millions of years ago. They drifted out to sea and landed on the islands and are the world’s only marine lizard. They are herbivores and graze solely on seaweed with their blunt snouts and have strong claws to cling onto the rocks.

13 It's The Best Place To Be A Flightless Cormorant

Confined to the beaches and lava shorelines of the Galapagos, this is the only cormorant of all 29 species that cannot fly. With their stunted wings being only one-third the size of what is required for them to fly, it is impossible for them to leave the two islands they live on, Isabela and Fernandina. It’s not a bad thing though, because they have more than made up for their lack of flight skills by mastering their underwater swimming skills instead. They sit low in the water and while tucking their tiny wings and kicking their powerful legs, they dive down to the ocean floor and spear octopus and fish to eat.

12 Pretty In Pink - The Galapagos Flamingos

Some of the most beautiful birds in the world are the vibrant pink Galapagos flamingos nicknamed the Rosy Flamingo. Their rich pink plumage is much more vibrant than their counterparts found elsewhere in the world. Their crooked pink and black beaks are used to separate the food from the silt and mud they suck up. Interestingly enough, flamingos have to have their heads upside down to eat. Their diet consists of crustaceans, like shrimp, contain carotenoids which give the flamingos their beautiful pink color. They colonize by the hundreds and make honking sounds similar to a goose. Adults can reach almost 5 feet and weigh around 6 pounds.

11 Large Painted Locusts

These very colorful creatures can be found on all the islands of the Galapagos except Española. The locusts that are found on Española are smaller ones and drabber in color. These Galapagos locusts are different and no mainland species is closely related to them. They are extremely strong fliers and great jumpers and it is believed that they colonized the Galapagos by flying there. Even though they can jump up to 3 meters it always doesn’t help them escape becoming part of the food chain. They play an important role because they are some of the favorite foods of the lava lizards and Galapagos hawks.

10 The Most Unusual Post Office - Post Office Bay

On the island of Floreana sits a post box in the shape of a barrel. It was left there in the 18th century by sailors on whaling ships. The Galapagos was a pit stop for the homesick seamen who came up with a creative way to send letters home to loved ones. A barrel was erected and they put their letters in it. As the ships traversed the oceans they left their mail there for the sailors on those ships to deliver. Still today, thousands of letters go through Post Office Bay as tourists sift through the mail and take letters going somewhere near their final destination. From there the person can either mail it or hand deliver it to the recipient.

9 Epic Hiking Trails

Deep-sea volcanoes erupted about 20 million years ago and created the Galapagos archipelago. On Isabela Island, there is a seven-mile hike that allows hikers the opportunity to visit, Sierra Negra, the world’s second largest volcanic crater. Strictly regulated with permits being required to protect the environment, hiking within the national park is on every hiker’s bucket list. From the Sulfur Mines that are shrouded in mist, to the lava fields and dense forests of Scalesia. The diverse and unique trails draw travelers from all over the world who want to make hiking the centerpiece of their trip.

8 Have You Heard The Mockingbirds?

Darwin’s finches might have stolen the limelight, but it was the Galapagos Mockingbirds that first drew Darwin’s attention to the great diversity of species amongst the islands. There are four species of Galapagos Mockingbirds. There may soon be five if the species found on Tower Island is declared to be a new one. It runs along the ground, instead of flying, as it hunts for its food. Its diet is omnivorous and consists of fruits, nectar from cacti, arthropods, seabird eggs and plants. Singing songs and phrases throughout the day, the mockingbird is very inquisitive and not frightened of people and will approach you to investigate.

7 The Cutest Ever Galapagos Fur Seals

Hunted by humans to near extinction for their thick fur, the Galapagos fur seal is fully protected today under Ecuadorian law. Hunting them is prohibited and has been since 1934. Additional protection was provided for them when the National Park was established in 1959. Smaller than a sea lion and a lot less vocal, the fur seals can be found resting in the shade on the rocky shores during the day. At night, their large eyes help them hunt for their food in the marine reserve. They eat fish and cephalopods found close to shore and can dive between 10m and 50m to get them.

6 Panting Penguins In The Northern Hemisphere?

The only penguins in the world that are wild and live north of the equator are the Galapagos penguins. They are also the second smallest penguins in the world, the first being the Little Penguin, appropriately named. They also are the only species of penguin that do not have a specific breeding season. Oddly enough, when the Galapagos penguins get too hot from sunbathing on the rocky cliffs, they pant like dogs. They are able to survive the warmer temperatures because it can quickly cool off by jumping into the waters which are cooled by the Humboldt and Cromwell Currents. Climate change and oil pollution are the biggest threat to their numbers.

5 Different But Unsurpassed Beach Life

If you’re looking for a crowded, chaotic beach where you can order your tropical drinks with the little umbrellas in it, your not going to find it on the Galapagos Islands. What you will find is a more secluded, tranquil and cultivated seaside experience. Each island offers up a unique and different beach experience. For example, Puerto Egas beach on Santiago Island has exquisite black sand with tuff-stone layers. Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island, in contrast, has white sand and colorful pink flamingos. If black or white sand beaches doesn’t float your boat, head over to Red Beach on Rabida Island for, you guessed it, red sand.

4 A Birdwatcher’s Paradise

When it comes to birds and birdwatching, the Galapagos beats the rest of the world hands down. From the novice to the most devoted birder, the birds of this tiny collection of islands put on quite a show. The Galapagos is home to 56 native bird species and amazingly 45 of them are found only in the Galapagos. From the Waved Albatross, Galapagos Penguin and Boobies, to the Finches and Frigatebirds, there is something for everyone. Without threats from natural predators, a lot of the birds there do not scare easily and are very approachable. They let you come into close contact with them so even if you’re not that keen a birdwatcher, these birds with make you become one.

3 The Best Month To Visit Is Any Month

Since the Galapagos Islands are on the equator, they pretty much have relatively constant and surprisingly comfortable temperatures throughout the entire year. The seasons are split into two categories. You have your cool and dry period from June to November. Then you have your warm and wet period from December to May where it's beautifully warm and balmy. The equatorial climate is not as hot and sticky as you might think so any time is good to visit there. Better underwater visibility and calmer seas happen when it's warmer though, so if your a diver or snorkeler you should take that into consideration when you make your travel plans.

2 A Living Evolutionary Laboratory

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and his famous book, The Origin Of the Species, would probably never have happened if it weren’t for the Galapagos Islands. Within the last 5 million years, all of the Galapagos islands were formed, which is a relatively short period of time since Earth’s beginnings. With a considerably different environment than the mainlands, the species that arrived at the Galapagos had to adapt to their new home or they didn’t survive. This means that evolution is faster on the islands than anywhere else in the world. The islands are so vital in regards to evolution that scientist still study them today.

1 Day And Night- Night And Day, They Are Both Equal

One of the very interesting and cool features of the Galapagos Islands is that you will have plenty of time, like all day or all night, to see all of the nocturnal and diurnal animals that live there. That is because island time in the Galapagos for day and night is equal in length. Since it is a tropical spot and sits on the equator, daylight savings is not implemented. Year round there will be 12 hours of night and 12 hours of day. There is only one other place that can say the same and that is the Republic of Kenya in East Africa.

References: grayline.com, theculturetrip.com, nationalgeogrphic.com, animalcorner.co.uk, arkive.org, grayline.com