Galápagos Islands
Archipelago ·
Volcanic archipelago with unique wildlife and evolutionary significance
Information
Ecuador Get directions
Volcanic archipelago with unique wildlife and evolutionary significance
Ecuador Get directions
"Expect to be on the move here, with hiking across multiple islands—think the Frigate Bird Hill hike on San Cristobal and trails around Sierra Negra on Isabela, an active shield volcano with one of the world’s largest craters—and world-class diving at sites like Wolf Island (where you’ll likely spot turtles), Darwin Island, and Punta Carrión." - Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"This Ecuadorean archipelago offers dramatic marine encounters—dolphins, eagle rays, turtles, and sharks—but diving conditions can be challenging, with strong currents that lead some outfitters to require 50 or 100 logged dives. For qualified divers, liveaboards provide access to remote sites like Darwin Island, where whale sharks, hammerheads, mantas, and even penguins create unforgettable big-animal experiences." - Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion is a travel journalist and photographer covering culture and adventure for Travel + Leisure Outside, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"An Ecuadorian archipelago famed for an extraordinary density of endemic wildlife—giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and unique endemic penguins among them—and more than 600 indigenous plant species; exploring by boat is a top way to combine snorkeling, diving, nature walks, and close-up wildlife spotting across multiple islands." - Hannah Walhout Hannah Walhout Hannah Walhout is a senior editor at Travel + Leisure, where she edits the Discoveries section of the print magazine and develops longer stories focusing on food, wine, and spirits. She has previously worked at Food & Wine and in the writing program at NYU Abu Dhabi. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"This remote volcanic archipelago about 600 miles off Ecuador’s Pacific coast is celebrated for unparalleled biodiversity, ecosystems found nowhere else, and important scientific history. A long-running reader favorite and WBA Hall of Fame honoree, it’s a photographer’s dream where visitors encounter endemic species such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies; many travelers spend their time exploring on foot and by boat, describing the nature as transformative and each day an adventure." - Hannah Walhout Hannah Walhout Hannah Walhout is a senior editor at Travel + Leisure, where she edits the Discoveries section of the print magazine and develops longer stories focusing on food, wine, and spirits. She has previously worked at Food & Wine and in the writing program at NYU Abu Dhabi. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"On a dive off the island, a curious sea lion swam around me as I descended to a somewhat precarious undercurrent that might have swept us away if we hadn’t held onto some rocks on the ocean floor. On the way back to the surface I also got a glimpse of some hammerhead sharks swimming nearby." - Erik Trinidad