The volcanic archipelago Galápagos counts as a paradise on earth. Its animal world offers a variety of species and a lot of endemic species. A lot of animals do not even fear the people visiting the Islands, which offers excellent opportunities for watching the animals. There is hardly a spot on earth where you can observe and photograph animals in the wild so good and close by. Our round trips lead you to the most beautiful places where you will find the most animals of the exotic Galápagos archipelago.
The archipelago is located app. 1000 km from the west coast of South America directly on the equator. They include 13 islands, which are bigger than 5 square km, 6 smaller islands (1-5 qkm) as well as more as 40 islands. The biggest island is "Isabela" with a surface of 4710 qkm. The island world covers in total a surface of 7882 qkm.
The Galápagos Islands are oceanic islands from volcanic origin. The two youngest Galápagos Islands Fernandina and Isabela are the most active volcanoes; they are situated nearly perfect above the hot spot and its rock-stratum is not older than 700.000 years. The oldest minerals are to be found on Española in the southwest; they are over 3,3 million years old.
At a visit on the Galápagos Islands you strike on a natural area with very special environmental conditions. The unique animal- and plant world are for a large part endemic (only to be found on these islands). Besides this interesting and wonderful landscape you will find the blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, Galápagos turtles, the cormoran which is unable to fly, Galápagos albatros, sea lizards, penguins, as well as the playful sealions and many more animals!
When being on a cruise, wales and dolphins can often be observed. Snorklers and scuba divers report constantly and enthusiastically about their encounters with rays, dolphins, sharks and many other exotic inhabitants of the sea of Galápagos.
Amazing for every visitor is the fearlessness which the animals on the islands kept as they do not have to fear humans here.
Climate: On the Galápagos Islands exist two seasons, which differ from the hot-dry and humid-colder mountain regions. From January to June (in which short heavy rain showers can occur) hot air temperatures rule (ca. 30 degrees Celsius). In the dry season from July to December the temperatures are a bit lower. The water temperatures amount between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.
The islands were untouched by humans for a long time. The first who discovered them would be the Inca-ruler "Tupac Yupanqui", however no evidence exists for this. The first notes were delivered by the Spaniard Tomas de Berlanga who was a bishop of Panama. He discovered the islands by accident in 1535 during a voyage towards the south.
The Galápagos Islands got the name "enchanted islands" from the Spanish pirate Diego de Rivadeneira. He believed that the islands become invisible from time to time. This idea probably arose because the primitive navigation instruments did not always bring the navigator to the desired position.
The first settlers came in 1793 with the waling fleets to Galápagos. However, a permanent colonization began not until the 50's of the 20th century. In 1832 the Galápagos Islands were added to Ecuadorian territory; the official name is "Archipiélago de Colón", however is not being used.
In 1959 the archipelago was declared a national park and in the 70's tourism started.
The National park Galápagos is an ideal place to explore and experience the unique animal world there. Here you can approach the fearless, but nevertheless not domesticated wild animals very closely. Birdwatching is a very special experience. On the one hand you have the variety of birds and on the other hand the fact that some species are endemic. As the Galápagos islands are founded on volcanic formations you will be able to experience a breath-taking as well as a moon landscape scenery . Since we represent more than 55 different boats including motor yachts, sailing yachts, cruise ships and catamarans varying in category from economic to luxury class and with a choice in many different itineraries we are able to organize for you an optimal tour on the Galápagos islands. As we have such a broad spectrum of boats, we can offer departures every day for 4-, 5- and 8-day cruises. You should not miss an expedition to Galápagos while this is one of the last eco-systems on eart
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South America 
