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In this article, we'll be sharing ten fun facts about the Galápagos Islands.

The islands were the first ever World Heritage Site.

97% of the islands are protected as part of a national park

No evidence exists of any pre-Colombian settlement. The first recorded human to set foot on the islands was the Bishop of Panama in 1535.

The Galápagos Islands were often used by pirates as a hideout, both to store their loot and since the giant tortoises provided a steady supply of food.

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Fernandina Island

One minor island is paradoxically called Nameless Island.

The archipelago was named after the giant tortoises found there: Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius named them Insulae de los Galopegos in 1574.

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The Galápagos mockingbird was the first creature that Darwin noticed varied from island to island.

The Galápagos penguin is the only penguin that has its natural habitat in the northern hemisphere. Charles Darwin also never spotted any, despite spending five weeks there.

Charles Darwin hated marine iguanas and dubbed them ‘imps of darkness’.

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Thanks to two airports and an thriving sustainable tourism industry, visiting the islands has never been easier.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Millie
    Millie Davies - Travel Expert

    Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Antigua
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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