It's the animals that garner all the attention. It's hard to disagree. Island's colourful, unique and plentiful wildlife and plants are its treasure. For scientists like Darwin the attraction is still in watching how this little biosphere of life continues to develop cut off from the rest of the world. For the likes of you and me a trip to these islands offers unparalleled, up-close encounters with exotic species many of which exist nowhere else in the world.
Tourists come here armed with a whole studio of cameras and plenty of film.
The ecology of the Gal pagos is fragile and even out here, cosseted by the Pacific Ocean, environmental concerns loom large. The Park Service has laid out special visitor's sites that are only accessible along selected paths and in the company of an official guide. Anyway the visitor sites are well positioned and offer fantastic views and opportunities to close to the animals in their natural habitats. The types of boats vary in price and, depending on your budget, you can choose anything from a converted fishing boat to a luxury cruiser. Middle of the range vessels are the best bet.