Organic Answers Column – May 17, 2023 – Galapagos

Galápagos Islands

How did so many creatures that could not swim very well get there? We got there by airplane flown from Ecuador and around on the islands in the beautiful tall ship called The Mary Anne.

On board the Mary Anne

Judy (left) and Logan on the Mary Anne as we sailed around the Galápagos

This was one of our favorite trips. I would gladly do it again and recommend it to other travelers.

An informal Galápagos island mailbox. Judy and Howard

Located about 600 miles west of South America in the Pacific Ocean, the Galápagos archipelago and the surrounding marine reserve are a unique living museum. Located at the intersection of three ocean currents, the islands are a ‘melting pot’ of marine species. Created by seismic and volcanic activity, the islands are also home to iguanas, the giant tortoise, and many other animals including various types of finches that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Galapagos is also home to a fascinating array of plant life.

The Frigate bird displaying – one of many birds of the Galápagos

Giant tortoises and other reptiles are protected on the islands

The Galápagos UNESCO World Heritage Centre is territory of Ecuador and is composed of 127 islands, islets and rocks – 19 are large and 4 are inhabited. 97% of the total emerged surface (7,665,100 hectares or almost 30,000 square miles) was declared a National Park in 1959.

Sea life abounds – and some of it takes a look back at the visitors

Unusual plants are found on the islands, such as this ancient woody opuntia cactus

Charles Darwin spent only five weeks in the Galápagos in 1835. The English naturalist observed that the islands’ finches (later named in his honor) had beaks that varied from island to island, depending on local conditions and food sources. Darwin would use this research as evidence for his theory of evolution by natural selection, which he presented in his book On the Origin of Species.

The scenery invites photographers to spend the whole trip pointing their cameras

People can get remarkably close to wildlife, such as this beefy marine iguana

One of the many magical things about Galápagos is how close the animals will allow you to get to them. Enjoy following all of this page’s links to a visual journey, courtesy of my camera, through part of Galápagos.

The Garretts traveled with an interesting small group of people and made excursions from the Mary Anne. This to a mangrove swamp.