Galapagos Islands, Ecuador    (map, info)

The natural history of these islands is eminently curious ... Most of the organic productions are aboriginal creations, found nowhere else; there is even a difference between the inhabitants of the different islands; yet all show a marked relationship with those of America, though separated from that continent by an open space of ocean, between 500 and 600 miles in width. The archipelago is a little world within itself, or rather a satellite attached to America ... Considering the small size of these islands, we feel the more astonished at the number of their aboriginal beings, and at their confined range. Seeing every height crowned with its crater, and the boundaries of most of the lava streams still distinct, we are led to believe that within a period, geologically recent, the unbroken ocean was here spread out. Hence, both in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact - that mystery of mysteries - the first appearance of new beings on this earth.  [- From The Voyage of the Beagle (1831-36) by Charles Darwin]

Giant tortoise	Frigate bird	Marine iguana	Land iguana
Sea lions			Flamingos
Blue-footed boobies			Masked boobies
Swallow-tailed gulls	Lava lizard	Brown pelicans	Sally Lightfoot crabs
Sea turtle			Floreana beach
Isla lobos			Floreana sunset
Post Office Bay	Post Office Bay beach	Snorkeling	Isla Santa Fe
Isla Espaňola	Puerto Baquerizo Moreno	Harbor	Panga
Coral reef	Isla Santa Fe	Devil's Crown	Leon Dormido