GALAPAGOS ISLANDS : WELCOME TO THE WILD 2021 ACTIVE & ADVENTURE | 5
CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
Cruise ships in the Galapagos vary their routes and stagger landings to avoid too many people being in one place at any one time . At each island , you can tick off an iconic species from your must-see list , such as the marine iguana , giant tortoise , flightless cormorant and bluefooted boobies .
Because the whole archipelago of 14 main islands , numerous smaller islets and rocks is a national park , there are tight restrictions on where tourists can go . Visitors only have access to around 1 % of the landmass , but there ’ s a lot to encounter within that 1 %. On Isabela , you can approach a tortoise so close you can hear it breathing . Sit down near one , and it will walk up to you — its thick , prehistoric legs moving clumsily ; its wrinkled neck jutting out — trying to eat anything in its path .
This magic happens with smaller species too . One of the islands ’ famous mocking birds loves to come up to people and hop around their feet , playfully pecking at exposed toes . It would be hard to measure tameness , and no doubt the rise of tourists in the past 30 years have had a significant impact on animal behavior . But when you come from a heavily populated country where pristine nature is in short supply , to see a tiny , delicate bird being so gregarious is awe-inspiring .
PHOTOS
TOP LEFT : BLUE-FOOTED BOOBIES TOP RIGHT : SWIMMING WITH MARINE TURTLES BOTTOM : PENGUIN IN GALAPAGOS
WONDERS IN THE SEA
The wildlife parade follows you into the waters too . While snorkeling inside a cave to see penguins and marine turtles , you may spot small white-tipped reef sharks , scowling from the dark areas in the lava . Come up for air and you ’ ll be greeted by blue-foots on the rock , their heads tilted quizzically eying your gear .
Nature abounds in the Galapagos ; you could easily begin to take it all for granted . But you shouldn ’ t , because everything here is incredibly beautiful and fragile . Thankfully , responsible tourism remains an essential means of protecting this unique and unforgettable paradise , giving you a chance to have a true oncein-a-lifetime experience .
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