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The Galapagos Islands is a favorite destination for an education about nature and wildlife. With hundreds of sea lions and pups, massive tortoise, pelicans, manta rays, active volcanos, coastal cliffs and turquoise water, it’s the vacation you will never forget, the memory of a lifetime.

With hundreds of sea lions and pups on the Galapagos, it’s amazing that mother sea lions can recognize their pups from the hundreds of others by their unique sounds. The Galapagos consist of 13 main islands, six smaller islands and 107 rocks and islets, or rocky landforms. The wonder of the islands for visitors is the natural beauty and sheer numbers of plants and animals that exist on these islands. After visiting Ecuador a short flight takes you 600 miles off the coast to Baltra Island. The best way to view the Galapagos is on a small cruise ship that can whisk you from island to island.

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General Tours provide planned itineraries with all the details and arrangements handled. One of the most visited of the islands is Bartolome Island. The landscapes are brilliant reds,orange, green and black volcanic formations. Trails allow visitors to photograph formations and wild life without disturbing their habitat. The summit trail is a series of wooden paths that make it easy to navigate the steep ascent to the top. The landscape is moon like with its lack of vegetation and of course, its flaming colors. When you reach the top you’re treated to the most beautiful and sweeping panoramic vista in the Galapagos. Several islands surrounded by turquoise water can be seen from this vantage point, as well as the famous Pinnacle Rock.

Image via Wikipedia

Other Galapagos Islands include the James Island which is made up of huge areas of black volcanic rock. Here you will see crabs scurrying along the beach. They are many colored and climb over anything in their pathway. The Fernandina Island which is the youngest of the islands at 700,000 years old, still has an active volcano that erupts every few years. The lava fields are home to hundreds of marine iguanas. A colony of sea lions also call this area home.

Image via Wikipedia

The Isabela Island is on the north western tip with imposing coastal cliffs. The rocky shore line is the perfect feeding ground for for manta rays, pelicans and fur seals. Santa Cruz Island has the Highlands National Park Tortoise Reserve. These massive tortoise weigh up to 660 pounds, and can well be 100 years old. The reserve began by rescuing the remaining 16 turtles on the island of Espanola in the 1970s. It has now restored the population to over 1,000.

North Seymour Island is made up of small trees, bushy vegetation, and scruffy cactus. Bird sightings here are plentiful. The blue footed boobies are the most famous of the birds in the Galapagos and they are frequently sighted here on North Seymour Island. The name “booby” which means fool or clown comes from the Spanish, so named because they are clumsy on land.

A trip to these islands can be fascinating and educational, full of awe and wonder. A learning experience about the challenges wild and marine life are facing today. Whether a small sea lion pup or a giant tortoise each is reliant on us to protect their environment and habitats.

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