The Galapagos Islands are among the most famous islands in the world. They are technically owned by Ecuador, but they are a significant distance away from Ecuador itself. The islands are situated in the Western Hemisphere, and they straddle the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They are more than 560 miles away from Ecuador to the West, and the islands are known for the rare plants and animals that live on the island. The islands, and the surrounding waters, are a part of the Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
The Galapagos Islands are extensively studied by most children in school because they form the basis of the theory of evolution and natural selection. Charles Darwin, one of the most famous evolutionary scientists in history, visited the islands several times. His boat was called the HMS Beagle, and he spent time studying the plants and animals on the island, many of which cannot be found in any other place on Earth. That is because the islands are incredibly isolated from just about every other major land mass in the world, so plants and animals on the island have been able to evolve differently. This led to his theory of natural selection, where species with properties that are best suited to survival tend to survive and live on, while others go extinct. This also formed the foundation for his theory of evolution, which is how new species grow and develop.
There are approximately 25,000 people who live on the island full-time, but there are a fair number of tourists who visit the area as well. Because the island is so far off the coast, it does not receive very many tourists. Until 1969, the only way someone could get to the island was by using a private or chartered vessel. Regular Air Service to the island did not begin until 1969. Eventually, many travel companies started booking trips to the island, making it easier for people to explore the area. If you are traveling to the Galapagos Islands, you must fly into San Cristobal or Baltra. There are also a fair number of yachts that dock in the area.
There are plenty of reasons to visit the islands, as there is a lot of science to learn about and the climate is relatively warm. And there are also several land-based hotels opening on the islands, but they are relatively limited. The islands are a protected environmental site, so development is going to be contained to only a few locations. There are 116 sites to visit on the Galapagos, but the windows for visiting them are very limited. It is important to protect the plants and animals that live there, so you should be accompanied by a guide if you decide to visit the area. That way, you can see as much as possible.