A PARADISE ON EARTH

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean some 1'000 km (600 miles) west of the Ecuadorian coast directly on the equator. The Archipelago consists of 13 major islands, 6 small islands and over 42 islets with official names. The oldest of the islands are about 4 million years old and the youngest are still in the process of being formed. Indeed, the Galapagos Islands are considered to be one of the most active volcanic areas in the world.

Situated at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galapagos are a melting pot of marine species and all this factors together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual high number of endemic plants and animals. Following his visit in 1835 on the M/S Beagle, Charles Darwin got on the Galapagos Islands inspired for his theory of evolution.

Together with the surrounding marine reserve the archipelago has been called a unique 'living museum and showcase of evolution'.

Untouched by humans for a long time, probably the Inca-ruler Tupac Yupanqui was the first to reach the islands. On his voyage from Panama to Peru, the Bishop Tomas de Berlanga got drifted westwards and officially discovered in 1535 the islands. In the next centuries the islands were the buccaneer's favorite hideout for their attacks on the Spanish galleons returning home from the New World full with gold and silver.

In the late 18 th century the whalers reached the islands and this exploitation brought the tortoise, fur seal and sperm whales near extinction.

On the 100 th anniversary of Darwin's publication in 1959, the Galapagos Islands became Ecuador's first National Park and the UNESCO declared them in 1978 to a World Heritage Site.

Because of this long isolation, the animals never learnt to have fear of the humans and can be approached closely for the perfect picture shot. But also the rich underwater world is a dream coming true for all scuba divers and snorklers.