There is, quite simply, no place on Earth like the Galápagos Islands, where blue-footed boobies, tortoises, and sea lions roam the streets as freely as people.
It’s an animal lover’s dream, an entire chain of volcanic islands that’s all national park, with a lot more to do than just look at the tortoises that made the place famous.
Diving in the Galápagos is as good as anywhere in the world, where you’re just as likely to find yourself swimming with a school of hammerhead sharks as you are a sea of brightly-colored tropical fish. You’ll snorkel with black iguanas, stand at the rim of a volcano, and stumble upon flocks of wild flamingos all in the same day. And while getting between islands can be tricky to figure out if you’re not on a guided tour, we’ll give you all the info you need to get around.
If you’re into spotting wildlife, block off some time and start perusing the pages below. We guarantee you’ll be looking at flights within an hour.