When you’re visiting the Galapagos Islands, the wildlife–including the giant tortoises–may take the top spot for things to do, but the islands offer other sights as well. Whether you’re exploring natural landmarks such as the lava tubes or dipping below the water for a view of the undersea biodiversity in the area, the islands will provide many unique experiences.
Charles Darwin Research Station
The Charles Darwin Research Station provides visitors with a look at the science and conservation going on to preserve the islands’ inhabitants. The center, which operates as part of the Charles Darwin Project, an international nonprofit organization, offers education about natural history and the islands. Visitors can also take an up-close look at the breeding programs for the giant tortoises. Santa Cruz Island provides the home for the facility, and most Galapagos tours include a visit there.
Giant Tortoises
Probably the best known of the inhabitants on the Galapagos Islands, the giant tortoises demonstrate what happens when a species can evolve without natural predators. These reptiles can live past 100 years of age and can grow as large as 550 lb. Tortoises can be found on all of the Galapagos Islands except Pinta, but Santa Cruz with its 3,000 tortoises maintains the largest population. Visitors to the Charles Darwin Research Center can see the tortoises involved in the breeding program, and most tours include visits to the islands where the tortoises move freely about in their natural habitat.
Lava Tubes
On Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, you can walk through lava tubes. These tubes formed from hot, liquid rock that created channels on the island. The outer part of a channel hardened and cooled even as the interior lava continued to flow. Eventually, the flowing interior lava emptied out, leaving a hollow cave-like structure. Guided tours though the tubes are available, but you can explore them independently as well.
Birds
The Galapagos finches helped ignite Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, and many visitors are interested in the 13 species of what are now called Darwin’s finches. However, the islands house other birds as well, including the blue-footed booby, the waved albatross and the cormorant that doesn’t fly. Visitors can view these birds from any of the 15 main islands; however, some birds are more common on certain islands. The vampire finch is best viewed on Wolf Island, and the Galapagos penguins on Fernandina Island and Isabela Island.
Scuba Diving
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