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Galapagos: A Traveler's Introduction
In 1979, the Galapagos Islands was one of the earliest World Heritage Sites to be selected by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), a designation intended to protect and preserve sites of cultural and natural heritage around the world. Today, there are over a thousand World Heritage Sites and the Galapagos Islands are one of the most widely valued.
The biology of the Galapagos Islands has arguably been studied more than any other archipelago in the world. Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 and spent several decades studying the flora and fauna of the islands. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, one of the most important ideas in all of science.
The new Republic of Ecuador took the islands from Spanish ownership in 1832, and subsequently gave them official Spanish names. The islands are located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 605 miles (973 km) off the west coast of South America and consist of 18 main islands and 3 smaller islands.
In this richly illustrated tour of the Galapagos, world renowned photographer and naturalist Wayne Lynch captures the unique wildlife living here, including the Galapagos tortoise, the marine iguana, the flightless cormorant, the blue-footed boobie and the magnificent frigatebird.
The biology of the Galapagos Islands has arguably been studied more than any other archipelago in the world. Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 and spent several decades studying the flora and fauna of the islands. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, one of the most important ideas in all of science.
The new Republic of Ecuador took the islands from Spanish ownership in 1832, and subsequently gave them official Spanish names. The islands are located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 605 miles (973 km) off the west coast of South America and consist of 18 main islands and 3 smaller islands.
In this richly illustrated tour of the Galapagos, world renowned photographer and naturalist Wayne Lynch captures the unique wildlife living here, including the Galapagos tortoise, the marine iguana, the flightless cormorant, the blue-footed boobie and the magnificent frigatebird.
- GenresNonfictionTravelAnimals
144 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 20, 2023
This travelers introduction gets a five for photography alone. The explanations of the animals, how they arrived there and their habits was so good. I should have read this before going to Galapagos, but it will be a keepsake of the time I hiked, sweat, and snorkeled there. I can't believe that I did it. Hooray for me!!
The Galapagos Islands are a treasure to be guarded with sacredness. They might not always exist. I'm so glad I got to see them and the animals we don't see anywhere else. It is truly a magnificent place.. Thanks to my brother, Paul, for arranging the trip, and wanting us to go along. A dream vacation, but not for the weak hearted. It pushed me to my limits in my 79th year.
The Galapagos Islands are a treasure to be guarded with sacredness. They might not always exist. I'm so glad I got to see them and the animals we don't see anywhere else. It is truly a magnificent place.. Thanks to my brother, Paul, for arranging the trip, and wanting us to go along. A dream vacation, but not for the weak hearted. It pushed me to my limits in my 79th year.
March 20, 2018
The Galapagos has been my dream destination for years. This book shows why everyone should go there. Glorious pictures and great info as well as how we are destroying it and what we can do to help.
January 24, 2020
Any travel book that manages to reference Sharknado deserves five stars.
December 19, 2022
Excellent, informative book with beautiful photographs of animal and plant life in the Galapagos!!
January 25, 2025
Really good and interesting book. Lots of nice pictures and fun facts.
Some things I learned- differences between the marine and land iguanas. The marine iguanas are dependant on algae to eat, which suffers in el nino events, thus decreasing the population of iguanas whom have nothing to eat.
I had no idea people lived on the island.
And the Irish guy whom stole a boat with 5 prisoners. His passengers later disappeared, thought to have been eaten.😮
I never knew that there has been irreversible destruction of species due to excessive fishing off the islands. I always thought the islands were in fact protected.
The Blue and Red Footed Boobies are quite interesting too, thought to be named after the Spanish word Bobies for "Stupid", as so tame.
Fascinating place.
I would have liked to have seen more landscape pictures, but this book really is a 5 stars anyways.
Some things I learned- differences between the marine and land iguanas. The marine iguanas are dependant on algae to eat, which suffers in el nino events, thus decreasing the population of iguanas whom have nothing to eat.
I had no idea people lived on the island.
And the Irish guy whom stole a boat with 5 prisoners. His passengers later disappeared, thought to have been eaten.😮
I never knew that there has been irreversible destruction of species due to excessive fishing off the islands. I always thought the islands were in fact protected.
The Blue and Red Footed Boobies are quite interesting too, thought to be named after the Spanish word Bobies for "Stupid", as so tame.
Fascinating place.
I would have liked to have seen more landscape pictures, but this book really is a 5 stars anyways.
August 31, 2023
The photography is beautiful and this is a good general overview, which, to be fair, is what it promised to be, but I was hoping for something a bit more in depth. Specifically, I wanted to know what one could expect to see on the various islands which is only very lightly touched upon.
April 30, 2025
Light , easy read with beautiful pics
January 11, 2026
It was a solid first introduction to the Galapagos Islands. It think it prepared me to read more in, perhaps, preparation for a visit in 2026.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews