The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands located about 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. They are dispersed around the equator and are a part of Ecuador’s national park system. These islands are renowned for their great number of endemic species. Charles Darwin came to this area with the SS Beagle; his famous theory of evolution was based on studies he did on the Galapagos Islands.

The name Galapagos comes from the giant land tortoises that live on the islands.
There are 13 main islands, and 107 rocks and islets. Many different species are found on the islands.

Darwin Island has fur seals, marine iguanas, sea lions, marine turtles, red-footed boobies, and more. Española is the oldest island, and is secluded from the others; therefore the species there are adapted to the unique environment of that island.
The marine iguana on this island is the only one that changes its color during the mating season.

Gardner Bay is a very popular swimming and snorkeling site found off of Española Island; there are many animals to be seen at Punta Suarez, including the famed blue-footed boobies and the waved albatross. On Floreana Island, sea turtles nest and pink flamingoes can be found.

The Galapagos are a must-see for nature lovers; as a marine reserve, it is second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978 and in 1985, it was denominated as a Biosphere Reserve.

Another treasure of Ecuador is the Otavalo Market, one of the most famous crafts markets in South America and the world. It is located two hours north of Quito, and is well worth a visit not only for the variety of crafts available, but for the surrounding villages, which supply the market. The main artisan market is located at Poncho Plaza, and the main market day is Saturday. The variety and quality of goods available is amazing; you can find carved wooden parrots, textiles, embroidered shirts, tapestries (Ecuador’s tapestries are world famous), paintings, musical instruments, wool sweaters, ponchos, etc.

In the surrounding villages, one can find leather goods at Cotacachi, wood carvings and picture frames in San Antonio, as well as hand-made furniture. Textiles are found in the villages of Selva Alegre, Cotama, Peguche, San Jose de la Bolsa, and Iluman.