Bird life in the Galapagos is much more abundant and varied simply for the fact that it was much easier for birds to reach the islands than reptiles or mammals. For a reptile or mammal to reach Galapagos, it had to survive for weeks or even months at sea, clinging to a floating tree or mass of vegetation. Once it arrived, it had to beat the odds and somehow find food and an ecological niche where it could survive. Birds, however, could fly to and from Galapagos relatively easily. Even smaller species such as finches could be carried out to Galapagos by strong storms. Today, it’s generally these smaller Galapagos species that have adapted enough to become endemic.

Understand how Galapagos was born and you can understand the Galapagos of today. Most Galapagos visitors have come from around the world to see the fearless Galapagos wildlife or to dive in the crystal blue Galapagos waters. Some have come to follow in the footsteps of famed naturalist Charles Darwin, who visited Galapagos in 1835. Everyone knows the privileged place of the Galapagos Islands in Natural History, but not as many know that the geology of the islands is as fascinating as the Galapagos wildlife!

For centuries, there were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, of which only the Pyramids of Egypt still survive. Then, a couple of years ago, there was an online competition to name the New Seven Wonders of the World. Millions of people voted and seven marvelous sites were selected, including Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Christ Redeemer statue in Brazil.