Two of the Best Galapagos Islands

First brought to world attention by Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands are an amazing destination to view wildlife and landscapes that cannot be found anywhere else. Cut off from the mainland of Ecuador, the species here were able to adapt in relative isolation, according to their unusual habitat.

San Cristobal
San Cristobal is the first place in the group of islands that was visited by Charles Darwin during his epic voyage on the Beagle. The island is home to the second largest population of humans in the Galapagos, as well as to one of the two airports. It can make a good base for touring the Galapagos, with several restaurants, hotels and bars present.

There are many different birds and animals that can be observed here, including giant tortoises, sea lions, boobies, iguanas, gulls, dolphins and more. Also on the island is the largest freshwater lake in the chain, offering many opportunities for viewing birds. One of the rare bird species is the Chatham Mockingbird, found only on this island.

For those who enjoy active holidays, there are even opportunities for surfing. Hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving are also available, particularly if one heads off the main island to Kicker Rock. On Isla Logos, about an hour away, one can encounter boobies, sea lions and lava lizards.

The soil on the island is quite rich in nutrients and that, combined with the climate, allows for a variety of plant-life. Included in this is some spectacular coffee that is so distinctive that it was promoted as a special reserve offering by Starbucks.

Baltra
Baltra is not actual part of the Galapagos National Park and, as a result, there isn't much wildlife present on it. The climate is quite dry so that the plant life present is that consistent with this, such as prickly pear cacti.

The island is home to one of the two airports in the Galapagos and, therefore, where many visitors fly to from the mainland and pay their park entrance fee. It is from Baltra that many cruise ships pick up and drop off their passengers. To better service these visitors, there are a variety of restaurants present.

One of the only examples of wildlife that can be found on the island is the iguana. During World War II, the U.S. military occupied and, after that, the iguanas became extinct. Fortunately, that had previously been brought to a neighboring island, North Seymour. Some of these were later brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station where they were bred and then reintroduced to Baltra in the 90s.

Because of the lack of wildlife, Baltra is not a place that tourists normally spend much time. There are no accommodations for overnighting and services are limited to a restaurant, internet and gift shops at the airport. It is currently being used as a base for the Ecuadorian military.

There are some unbelievable Galapagos tours on the market, but be sure to find the best Galapagos Island trips.