Confessing my ignorance … Galapagos Islands

As I was planning our trip to the Galapagos Islands, I learned a lot about the country of Ecuador and the Islands themselves.  The Galapagos Islands are world famous, but it is one of those places that you know about without knowing a lot about.

I knew the Galapagos Islands are a series of islands.  The Islands were important to Darwin and his theory of evolution and survival of the fittest.  The Islands were separated from the mainland and the animals adapted differently.  The Islands are protected and an ecological venture.

What I didn’t know …

• The Galapagos belong to Ecuador … by default since no one else wanted them.
• The Islands are about 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador.
• There are over several large islands and around 40 islets.
• There are two airports in the Galapagos that accommodate commerical sized jets … I think Airbus.
• There are over 20,000 natives of Galapagos and several hotels including the five star Palms.
• There are two ways to see the Islands … cruise ship/yacht or hotel.  [My preference is cruise ship.]
• The Islands are on a geological hot spot like the Hawaiian Islands which are way further west.  There are still volcanic eruptions.
• There were multiple attempts to colonize the Islands.
• The natural beauty of some of the islands rivals the uniqueness of the animal populations.

I am sure that there is even more that I do not know, but that’s all I am willing to confess.