The Galapagos Islands are without a doubt, the coolest place I have ever visited. The archipelago is located 600 miles off the coast of South America and is part of the Republic of Ecuador. These islands are extremely remote and not easy to get to (four flights and 13 hours of flying) but are one hundred percent, more than worth the travel.
These islands were made famous by Charles Darwin who traveled out the archipelago during the mid-19th century to study and sparked his theory of evolution. Nowadays, the Galapagos Islands are visited because they one of the best places in the world to view wildlife.
The best way to travel the Galapagos is by a cruise. I was on the Eastern Santa Cruz II trip along with a relatively small group of 80 passengers. The islands are largely uninhabited and protected for the conservation of endemic species. The cruise is the best option for visiting Galapagos, because the boat takes you to many islands to explore with guides to show and explain the species.
The archipelago is 21 islands total. Each island has a unique look but similar in landscape. The islands, in general, are desert along the coast and forests around the inland volcanoes. They are located on the equator and do not largely vary in temperature monthly, but have a dry and wet season. The water is warm, but not quite as warm as other tropical destinations because of the colder current coming up from the South.
The Galapagos was an absolutely amazing trip and I am already missing the wildlife, views, and water.
