The Galapagos Islands offer some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. Not only are the animals that inhabit this Pacific Ocean chain scattered 500 miles west of Ecuador beautiful and interesting—they’re virtually fearless of humans. Join naturalist Kitty Coley as she unlocks the mystery of these islands by exploring their unique natural history, one that allows tropical flamingos to be found alongside cold-water penguins.
Coley discusses the amazing diversity of life found here, including the only marine-going iguanas in the world; the famous giant Galapagos tortoises; tree-size members of the daisy family; and a wide variety of seabirds such as the blue-footed booby and the waved albatross. Coley weaves into her narrative the intriguing history of evolutionary biology, the island’s volcanic origins, and the observations made by Charles Darwin during his visit in 1835.
Coley is a geologist, naturalist, and birder who serves as a consultant to National Geographic magazine and has led many expeditions to the Galapagos.
To learn more about Ecuadorian culture, listen to clips from Smithsonian Folkways recordings>>
Smithsonian Connections
Learn more about these islands that comprise a mysterious landscape of wonder, beauty, and the most unusual wildlife found anywhere on Earth on a cruise of The Galapagos Islands.
Visit the Smithsonian Journeys page to see more exotic trips.
