cruises

The year was 1919, and the world had begun to recover from the haunting shadow of the Spanish flu. Fifty million people across the globe had died from this invisible disease, and the one question on everyone’s mind was “Where do we go from here?” After staring death in the face and surviving, people began to explore the world around them in an affirmation of life and health. Travel boomed for commercial flights and voyages. Many were desperate to escape the confines of home for bigger and brighter places.

Wait, people actually live on the Galápagos Islands? Yes, yes they do. Located about 600 miles off the western coast of Ecuador, the island group of the Galápagos is home to several thousand people. Of the thirteen major islands, five are inhabited by Ecuadorians, most of whom live on the islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. Puerto Ayora, the largest city on Santa Cruz, is a thriving tourist’s paradise complete with gift shops, restaurants, and nearby sightseeing. Many tourists are attracted to these tropical islands, situated less than one degree south of the equator, for their exotic plant and animal life and their breathtaking beaches. It’s not every day that you get to see a five-hundred-pound tortoise or set foot on a beautiful, uninhabited island. Because traveling to the islands can be pricey, plan on staying for a week or longer in order to get the most out of the tropical experience. The following are a few of the most popular sites to help you plan your getaway.