{"id":562,"date":"2024-05-20T13:23:50","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T13:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/?p=562"},"modified":"2025-05-20T17:37:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:37:54","slug":"what-is-galapagos-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.galapagosislands.com\/blog\/what-is-galapagos-name\/","title":{"rendered":"Galapagos: What\u2019s in a name?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year, thousands of visitors come to the\u00a0Galapagos<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0for the trip of a lifetime. A plethora of island and\u00a0cruise<\/a><\/strong> activities keep them busy. Yet many of them may have time to ponder how the\u00a0Galapagos<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0got its name.<\/p>\n

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Insulae de los Galopegos<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Inca<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>claimed to have discovered some islands in the Pacific, but it is not known for sure if they ever found their way to the\u00a0<\/strong>Galapagos<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The first confirmed visitors to the Islands were the Spanish exploring their newly-conquered territories. \u00a0Bishop Tom\u00e1s de Berlanga<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0washed up there in 1535 en route from Panama to Peru. \u00a0The Bishop and his shipmates were not impressed. \u00a0He said the islands were worthless and barren.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Berlanga\u2019s description of iguanas, sea lions, and tortoises was disseminated far and wide. He was especially attracted to the tortoises. \u00a0The ones he saw were of the saddle-backed variety, and so he nicknamed them \u201cGalapagos\u201d after a certain type of saddle popular during that era. \u00a0This was soon the name that became associated with the islands.<\/p>\n

When Flemish mapmaker Abraham Ortelius published his Atlas in 1570, he referred to the islands as \u201cInsulae de \u201cLos Galopegos\u201d,\u201d or \u201cIslands of the Saddle-backs.\u201d \u00a0The Islands have been referred to as \u201cGalapagos\u201d ever since.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Enchanted Isles<\/h2>\n

Other names are commonly used to refer to the archipelago. \u00a0The most famous one is \u201cthe Enchanted Isles.\u201d \u00a0This name also dates back to the colonial period. \u00a0As Spanish sailors approached the islands, the treacherous currents and the swirling mists caused them to frequently lose sight of islands right in front of them earning them the title \u201cenchanted.\u201d Although enchanted places were considered menacing and ominous back then, it sounds a lot nicer today!<\/p>\n

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The Archipelago of Columbus
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According to the Republic of\u00a0Ecuador<\/a><\/strong>, the official name of the\u00a0Galapagos Islands<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is the \u201cArchipi\u00e9lago de Col\u00f3n” or the Archipelago of Columbus. \u00a0This odd name dates back to 1892 when the world was gripped with the 400th<\/sup>-anniversary celebration of Christopher Columbus\u2019 famous voyage of discovery.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bit absurd since Columbus never got anywhere near the islands. \u00a0Nevertheless, the \u201cArchipelago of Columbus\u201d became the official name.\u00a0 Many of the islands have individual names that reflect Columbus and his voyage. \u00a0Isabela Island<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is named for Queen Isabela of Spain and\u00a0San Crist\u00f3bal Island<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(St. Christopher) is in honor of Columbus himself.<\/p>\n

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Visiting the Galapagos Islands means knowing about history and the unique wildlife only found in the fantastic destination, so wait no longer and start planning your next\u00a0vacation!<\/b><\/a> Check out current\u00a0promotions<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and inquire with the\u00a0experts<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>today.<\/p>\n

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