You can reach Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the island's small capital, from Santa Cruz by speedboat – but there's also the option of taking an island-hopper flight. "San Cristóbal is the Galápagos island where nature and everyday life blend together particularly closely. While Santa Cruz is more heavily influenced by tourism and Isabela impresses primarily with its volcanoes, on San Cristóbal you encounter the famous sea lions even while strolling through the capital." When Ecuador declared the Galápagos Islands its own province in 1973, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno was designated the provincial capital. This made the city the capital of the new province. San Cristóbal was one of the first Galápagos islands to be permanently settled. The Ecuadorian government began…

Anyone seeing a marine iguana in the Galápagos for the first time might almost think a small dinosaur had just crawled out of a volcano. With its black, spiky back, powerful claws, flattened tail, and a head often framed by a white salt crust, it's not exactly pretty. But that's precisely what makes it so fascinating. The Galápagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is unique in the world: it's the only lizard that regularly forages for food in the ocean. It lives exclusively on the Galápagos Islands and has perfectly adapted to life between hot lava rock and cold Pacific waters. From land to sea: And here begins an astonishing evolutionary story. The ancestors of the Galápagos iguanas originally came from…

Blue-footed boobies… The locals affectionately call these charming birds “Boobies.” The English name “booby” ​​actually comes from the Spanish word “bobo,” which means something like “foolish” or “clumsy.” The name originated because the birds are not very shy on land and appear somewhat awkward even from a distance. With their bright blue feet and inquisitive gaze, blue-footed boobies look as if nature has played a special joke on them. Yet these extraordinary birds are among the most famous inhabitants of the Galápagos Islands. Their famous courtship dance is particularly fascinating. A male struts slowly in front of a female, alternately lifting his brilliant blue feet, as if carefully…

Isabela is by far the largest island in the Galápagos. Its distinctive shape, seen from above, resembles a seahorse. It was formed by the merging of several volcanoes, some of which are still active today. Despite its size, only a few thousand people live here. The center of island life is Puerto Villamil on the south coast – a relaxed coastal town with sandy streets, small restaurants, and an atmosphere that instantly evokes a vacation feeling. Dream beaches without crowds. The island reveals its most beautiful side, especially in the mornings and evenings. As the sun slowly rises or sets over the Pacific Ocean, the beach often belongs almost exclusively to the wildlife. On the south coast of Isabela Island lies…