Jami Tarris Photography

The Galapagos Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. They belong to Ecuador and are distributed on either side of the equator. They are considered one of the world's foremost destinations for wildlife viewing and photography. There are 19 islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique "living museum and showcase of evolution". Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galapagos are a melting pot of marine species. The ongoing seismic and volcanic activity together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual animal life - such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and many types of finches that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in 1835. Thanks to an absence of predators, the wildlife there is extremely relaxed. The animals are so friendly and playful that it is very easy to get very close to sea lions, giant sea tortoises, the blue and red-footed boobies and other animals.