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The Galapagos Islands is part of the Republic of Ecuador, are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere. Located 906 km (563 mi) west of continental Ecuador, the islands are known for their large number of endemic species that were studied by Charles Darwin during the second voyage of HMS Beagle. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by means of natural selection.

The Galapagos Islands and their surrounding waters form the Galapagos Province of Ecuador, the Galapagos National Park, and the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish. The islands have a population of slightly over 25,000.

The first recorded visit to the islands happened by chance in 1535, when Fray Tomas de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, was surprised with this undiscovered land during a voyage to Peru to arbitrate in a dispute between Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro.De Berlanga eventually returned to the Spanish Empire and described the conditions of the islands and the animals that inhabited them. The group of islands was shown and named "Insulae de los Galopegos" (Islands of the Tortoises) in Abraham Ortelius's atlas published in 1570. The first crude map of the islands was made in 1684 by the buccaneer Ambrose Cowley, who named the individual islands after some of his fellow pirates or after British royalty and noblemen. These names were used in the authoritative navigation charts of the islands prepared during the Beagle survey under captain Robert FitzRoy, and in Darwin's popular book The Voyage of the Beagle. The newly independent Republic of Ecuador took the islands from Spanish ownership in 1832, and subsequently gave them official Spanish names. The older names remained in use in English-language publications, including Herman Melville's The Encantadas of 1854. Administratively, Galapagos constitutes one of the provinces of Ecuador, made up of three cantons that bear the names of its most populated islands, namely: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela.

Foods in  The Galapagos :

(1) Fresh Fish and Seafood : 
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a large number of protected species, you have to be careful in almost everything you do on The Galapagos. It is important to be considerate when choosing where to dine and what to choose from on the menu! Fortunately, there are plenty of local delicacies on this archipelago that are served without endangering any species. As Ecuadorian gastronomy is a little recognized, but very distinct cuisine. Like many island groups, the seafood is plentiful, fresh, and delicious. The careful protection of the island has allowed vegetation to grow and be farmed responsibly for the enjoyment of locals and tourists alike.

(2) Ceviche :
Popular throughout many countries of Central and South America, Ceviche is traditionally built around fresh, raw fish cured in citrus juices and spiced with chili peppers. But it can also be made from shrimp,  octopus, squid, Canchalagua, or churros. There are a variety of ceviche dishes – including ceviche cocktails.The fish in ceviche can be Corvina, which is sea bass. Fish ceviche can also have a wide range of shellfish as the main protein including black clam, oysters and barnacles – depending upon what is in abundance in the region or during the season.

(3) Encebollado : 
The national dish of the Galapagos Islands, encebollado, is a fish stew, served with boiled cassava and pickled red onion rings. It is often sold by vendors for breakfast, mid-morning snack. or lunch using albacore, tuna, billfish or bonito.Thick fish-based soups like encebollado are a common element in most Galapagos Islands restaurants and many times include yucca, chilies, and onion. For eating on the move, vendors will typically serve the stew with banana chips, popcorn, plantains or even bread (perfect for dipping).

(4) Exotic Sea Cucumbers :
A traditional treat on the Galapagos Islands, sea cucumbers are thought to be an aphrodisiac (and potentially why so many indigenous species thrive and re-populate.) Sea cucumbers are served in a range of different dishes, due to the versatility of the taste. Braising and frying are two of the most common forms of preparation, served alongside stews or with fruit.

(5) Ecuadorian Fish Soup or Biche (or Viche) de Pescado :
This fish soup is called Viche de Pescado and is a soup with a creamy peanut base and chopped vegetables along with a white fish like Corvina (sea bass), tilapia, or halibut. It is very thick, almost like a stew. It also may contain cassava, sweet plantains, corn on the cob pieces, peanuts, garlic, spices, onions, and cilantro. Many times the chopped vegetables can be squash, sweet potatoes, or green beans.  Often even beans are added to the fish soup.

(6) Arroz Marinero :
Arroz Marinero is a seafood rice dish that looks similar to the Spanish paella. It is made with cooked long-grain rice in a seafood broth. Added to it, is sautéed shrimp, clams, squid, and bay scallops. Then sauteed onions, green peas, bell pepper, garlic, and cilantro are added. And I do mean a lot of cilantro and garlic are added to give flavor to this dish. Last, but certainly not least, spices are added, specifically achiote or annatto. This gives the seafood rice dish a slightly reddish color and an earthy flavor.
 

Weather & geography in The Galapagos :
The Galapagos Islands are located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the South and North Equatorial Currents, along with the Equatorial Counter Current. These currents largely influence the climate which is generally hot and rainy from December to June and relatively cool from June to November.
 

Per day Cost in The Galapagos :
How much money will you need for your trip to Galapagos Islands? You should plan to spend around $111 per day on your vacation in Galapagos Islands, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $27 on meals for one day and $43 on local transportation.

History of The Galapagos :
The Galapagos Islands are located approximately 559 miles off the coast of Ecuador, delicately hugging the equator. They have been forming, erupting and evolving for millions and millions of years; however it is only recently that mankind began to form its story in the Galapagos. There are currently over 25,000 residents in the archipelago, a number that has grown exponentially in the 21st century. Indeed, they were only made famous in 1835 with the arrival of the HMS Beagle and its world-renowned passenger, Charles Darwin. Nevertheless, the islands have developed a rich and intriguing history through this relatively short period, almost as captivating as the natural history they are so well known for. The Galapagos Archipelago is a bucket-list destination among divers, nature-lovers, scientists and volunteers alike thanks to its rich geological and biological history; however, human history of the Galapagos is not one to miss out on.

According to the history of the Galapagos, the archaeological evidence tells us that the archipelago was discovered in pre-colonial times, but the Bishop of Panama, Tomas de Berlanga was the first known person to step foot on the Galapagos Islands in 1535 when he was blown off course while sailing to Peru. It was still some time after that the Galapagos appeared on a map (1570), in which Abraham Ortelius and Gerardus Mercator called the islands the Insulae de los Galopegos, or Islands of the Tortoises, and it took more than two centuries for the first permanent resident to find his way to the Galapagos. Patrick Watkins was marooned on Floreana Island in 1807; however, it seems like as many who visit modern-day Galapagos, he was quite taken by what he found. He chose to stay in the islands for several years, raising vegetables and even selling them to the crews of whaling ships.