The largest national park in the country
The Galapagos Park was created on May 14, 1936 and classified as a national park in 1959. At the time, the government's aim was to preserve the archipelago's exceptional flora and fauna from harmful human activities. It was then decreed that 97% of the archipelago's land was protected, i.e. a total of 800,000 hectares. In 1978, the park was even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While only two nautical miles were protected within the national park, by 1998 this area had been greatly expanded to 40 nautical miles. The Galapagos Marine Reserve was born, covering 133,000 km². In 1984, the park was recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A total of 560 plant species (including 180 endemics) can be found here. To these can be added 700 species that have been introduced as a result of colonization or human action.
A unique and protected fauna in the world
The Galapagos archipelago being located very far from the land and out of the frequented maritime routes, its original inhabitants have developed there like nowhere else on the planet. As soon as you set foot in San Cristóbal or Santa Cruz, you can see the different hierarchy from the rest of the world, Men are no longer the priority! As far as the fauna is concerned, the national park is home to 17 species of mammals, 152 birds, 22 reptiles and nearly 2,000 species of invertebrates. And new species continue to be discovered, such as the pink iguana, which, despite having been present in the Galapagos since time immemorial, was only identified in 2009. Moreover, thanks to their distance from the mainland and the food resources available on land and underwater, the animals have undergone their own evolution and are in themselves a reason to discover the archipelago if you are a lover of wild nature. Whether you want to see the sea lions in San Cristobal, photograph the giant tortoises in the Darwin Foundation or discover the penguins in Isabela, you can trust the official agencies.
An ancestral flora in danger
Many of the plant species found in the Galapagos Islands are as interesting and unique as the islands' renowned animal life. Yet many first-time visitors are surprised by the barren, almost lunar landscape that greets them when they step off the plane. Compared to many parts of mainland South America or other tropical island groups around the world, the Galapagos Islands are home to relatively few endemic plant species and are not particularly lush, except at higher elevations on the larger islands like Santa Cruz. Thirty percent of the native plants no longer exist anywhere else on Earth and more than 180 endemic plants have been identified. Scientists count about 600 species of native plants, which is not very many considering that mainland Ecuador alone is home to over 20,000!
Evolution Laboratory
The Galapagos' most famous tourist was undoubtedly Charles Darwin, who explored the archipelago for several weeks in 1835. Amazed by the specific fauna of the islands, he studied in particular the different species of finches found there. His studies enabled him to develop his theory of the evolution of species, based on the process of natural selection he observed in the Galapagos.
Indeed, the Galapagos' remoteness from the coast and its position in the middle of the Pacific Ocean made it the ideal place for species diversification, as Darwin had demonstrated in his theory, which was initially contested. Because islands are so far apart, land animals are generally confined to one territory and adapt to it over the centuries. Some species, such as the Finch, have the ability to evolve in just two generations, making scientific findings in this direction easier to understand.
A new underwater biodiversity sanctuary
The Galapagos, by virtue of its geographical location off the coast of every continent, is of course also a vast underwater nature reserve. Unfortunately, humans being what they are, many underwater species have disappeared over the course of the 20th century. In March 2016, the former president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, announced the creation of a 47,000 km² marine sanctuary around the Galapagos Islands. The archipelago is home to the world's largest shark population, as well as many other species, including marine turtles, numerous iguanas and thousands of sea lions. The inauguration of this reserve has made it possible to limit fishing and human exploitation. In 2020, more than thirty underwater species were discovered in the archipelago! These include four species of Okupa lobster, some fifteen species of coral, one species of starfish and eleven species of sponge - and that's just the beginning!
Wolf and Darwin, islands at the end of the world
The Galapagos Islands are known as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world, and the Darwin and Wolf Islands are the best dive sites in the Galapagos archipelago. This makes them some of the best diving spots on the planet, offering world-class underwater riches! The area around the Wolf and Darwin islands is constantly visited by a rare diversity of marine creatures. Hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, dolphins and an overwhelming multitude of tropical fish frolic amidst coral reefs and volcanic cliffs. In fact, these waters have the largest shark biomass on the planet. That's why Darwin and Wolf are perfect spots for experienced divers with a passion for the big creatures. Add interesting rock formations and volcanic landscapes, as well as abundant cliff-nesting seabirds, and you begin to appreciate what makes the islands of Darwin and Wolf so special and attracts so many visitors who can only get there by taking a cruise organized by one of the local operators, the best of whom are listed in this book. Visitors to Wolf and Darwin are, of course, always accompanied by a local guide to ensure the protection of the area.
