The lure of the Galapagos Islands

Giant Galapagos tortoises meander distant highlands, and prehistoric marine iguanas sun themselves on black lava rocks along the shore. Flightless cormorants and tiny penguins dart through the waters while graceful red-billed tropicbirds screech across the sky. In the company of a Galapagos naturalist guide, you set out to explore remarkable island ecosystems as you inch past lounging sea lions, scout for breaching whales offshore and pink flamingos in hidden lagoons. The volcanic Galapagos sits about 650 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. At first, they appear to be desolate. Yet, these rough and rocky islands are home to wonderfully strange and abundant wildlife. As Charles Darwin some 200 years before us, we marvel at the highly adapted creatures found nowhere else on earth.

When it comes to arranging a distinctive Galapagos adventure, there is no substitute for the in-depth knowledge offered by the experienced staff at Big Five Tours & Expeditions. Begin your adventure right here at Galapagos.com. Learn more about this remote yet surprisingly easy-to-reach destination.

Welcome to Galapagos.com powered by Big Five Tours & Expeditions, awarded a "World's Best Tour Operators & Safari Outfitters" by Travel+Leisure since 1999.

Ecuadorian Explorations

Quito is one of South America’s most delightful and culturally rich colonial cities. You have the opportunity to meet two of its most famous artists. Explore Ecuador’s exceptional artisan villages in the Andean countryside and the country’s most noted native market in Otavalo. Travel into the heart of Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest and hike in El Pahuma Reserve. Discover life on along the rim of an extinct volcano, Pululahua Crater. Venture into the islands made famous by Charles Darwin on your five-day Galapagos cruise aboard the Santa Cruz, designed for a voyage of exploration and amazement.