The Galapagos archipelago is made up of thirteen main islands & more than sixty other islets, rocks & reefs, scattered over four hundred kilometres of open ocean. Sitting at a confluence of four major ocean currents, the islands are actually the summits of vast undersea volcanoes, & are steadily on the march. How has such an odd assortment of life managed to find a footing in this unruly world? Micro-climates & altitude have combined to form discrete environmental zones: perfect habitats for the islands diverse fauna marine iguanas, petrels, blue-footed boobies & giant tortoises being but a famous few. Galapagos is a rare insight into an incredible landscape, a natural laboratory & an exquisite evolutionary habitat that Darwin described as a `world within itself`. Both fragile & furious, the Galapagos is unlike any other place on earth. ...

Galapagos: The Enchanted Island through Writers’ Eyes is a compilation of human stories & tales from the island that gave birth to Darwin’s theory of evolution. Chapters include tales of pirates & buccaneers, real life Robinson Crusoes & Swiss Family Robinsons, the schemes of Spanish Kings, Inca Emperors & American filibusters, as well as snippets from the visits & works of writers & exiles such as Lord Byron, William Dampier, Herman Melville & Charles Darwin. ...

Decorative 56x 75cm wallmap based on the chart of the Galapagos Islands dated 1836, surveyed by Capt Robert Fitz Roy & officers of HMS Beagle, accompanied by Charles Darwin. This poster is embellished with watercolour views of the islands, also originating from this voyage, & annotated with a few facts & extracts from Fitz Roy's log records. ...

Galapagos Islands in the Odyssey Guides series; aimed at travellers particularly interested in the culture & history of their destination; the guides focus on the atmosphere, customs, & distinctive character of a country, region or city. As the only English language publisher based in China, Odyssey Guides specialize in Asian destinations, relying on the expertise of local writers. This gives readers more of an insider ...

A map from ITMB conveniently combining coverage of the Galapagos Islands with street plans of Quito & Guayaquil plus road maps of the environs of both cities for those who wish to explore them on their way to or from the archipelago. On one side is a map at 1:380, 000 of the Galapagos Islands with bold altitude colouring & contours at 50m intervals providing a vivid picture of their topography. Various peaks & other topographic features are named. Numerous locations across the whole archipelago are cross-referenced to photos & brief descriptions of the islands’ 13 most interesting animals & birds. The map shows ferry connections between the islands, access by air, & locations with tourist accommodation & other facilities. On the reverse is a large, indexed street plan of Quito at 1:12, 500, orientated with the west at the top to provide a convenient coverage from the airport to the districts south of the Old City. Public transport options of El Trolle, Eco-Via & Metrobus-Q are very clearly marked, with the whole network also presented on a separate diagram. The plan also shows streets with or connected by stairways, providing a very useful indication of the city’s topography for those exploring the capital on foot. For drives main traffic arteries are highlighted, with clear presentation of access onto expressways, plus locations of petrol stations & car parks. Numerous places of interest are highlighted, including selected hotels, embassies, etc. Smaller panels on both sides present: a street plan of central Guayaquil at 1:10, 000 with cartography similar to the plan of Quito; the Guayaquil region at 1:100, 000; plus a Quito region road map extending north to Otavalo & Ibarra & south to Latacunga, so including the Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Sincholagua, etc. ...

Historical map of the Galapagos Islands showing routes around the archipelago taken by its most famous explorers, including William Ambrosia Cowley & his partner William Dampier who arrived on the islands in June 1684, the author Herman Melville &, of course, Robert Fitz Roy & Charles Darwin on HMS Beagle. The map is decorated with drawings of their ships, each accompanied by a brief description in English & Spanish. ...

Galapagos Islands in the Moon Spotlight guide series; covering a range of specific local cities, districts, areas & regions in North, Central & South America & targeted at those seeking to travel to a specific area within a country. Each of the guides has been extracted in full from the relevant country Moon Handbook & individual titles focus on a particular city, region or notable area of the destination. Many of the guides in the series are unique in their coverage, although are limited in putting the destination into its wider geographical context that a more comprehensive guide would provide. Stylistically, Moon ...

Galápagos Wildlife in the unique Wildlife Guide series by Bradt; focusing exclusively on the wildlife of selected regions & countries worldwide, exploring birds, mammals, insects, plants, habitats, geology, conservation, hikes & top bird-watching sites. Each title in the series is an ideal introduction to the wildlife of the destination & an ideal visitors’ souvenir. Bradt are one of the country’s leading independent publishers & have an ethos that focuses on responsible travel, in alliance with a philosophy of sustainability; both in the destinations the guides cover but also in encouraging tourists to limit the impact they have on the local environment. An introductory section gives a wildlife overview of the destination, human history, national parks & other protected areas & alien invasion. Further initial chapters cover The Land & habitats, with detailed information on geography & geology, the history of the l&, climate & weather, the coast, forests, lakes & rivers & alpine & sub-alpine climates. Individual animal groups – Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians & Freshwater Fish, Invertebrates & Plants & Fungi – have dedicated chapters, & detailed descriptions of the animals are accompanied by colour photographs, aiding identification. Inset boxes throughout the text also provide detailed examination of a particular species or notable feature about the indigenous wildlife. A Where to Go chapter at the end of each guide provides details of the destination’s national parks & protected areas, activities, wildlife hotspots & practical planning & travel information, including local transport & accommodation. ...

Bradt's fully illustrated wildlife guides focus on regions of the world particularly celebrated for their amazing & often unique species. With spectacular photography or exclusive watercolour drawings throughout, each visitors' guide provides an introduction to the region's principal flora & fauna alongside suggested wildlife itineraries, practical information on when to go & what to take & photography tips. Written in a deliberately engaging way, they offer something different from dry field guides, & will appeal to the interested layman as much as the wildlife devotee. It is ideal as a lightweight companion to any wildlife trip they also make a handsome souvenir. The Galapagos islands are famed for their unique & diverse wildlife, as illustrated here with full colour photographs on every page. In spite of their isolated location, their allure is such that they are a Mecca for wildlife enthusiasts on what has often been called the 'trip of a lifetime'. Galapagos Wildlife is written by experienced tour guides, who share essential tips on how to discover the best the islands can offer & fascinating background on key species. Whether planning a voyage of discovery in the footsteps of Darwin or simply as a great souvenir of a trip, this guide will be invaluable for visitors to this magical kingdom. ...

A lavish photographic celebration that captures the fascinating behaviors of land & sea animals in the Gal pagos Islands The Gal pagos Islands are home to an amazing variety of iconic creatures, from Giant Tortoises, Gal pagos Sea Lions, Gal pagos Penguins, & Ghost Crabs to Darwin`s finches, the Blue-footed Booby, & Hummingbird Moths. But how precisely do these animals manage to survive on--and in the waters around--their desert-like volcanic islands, where fresh water is always scarce, food is often hard to come by, & finding a good mate is a challenge because animal populations are so small? In this stunning large-format book, Gal pagos experts Walter Perez & Michael Weisberg present an unprecedented photographic account of the remarkable survival behaviors of these beautiful & unique animals. With more than 200 detailed, close-up photographs, the book captures Gal pagos animals in action as they feed, play, fight, court, mate, build nests, give birth, raise their young, & cooperate & clash with other species. Watch male Marine Iguanas fight over territory & females; see frigatebirds steal food & nesting materials from other birds; witness the courtship dance of a pair of Blue-footed Boobies; go underwater to glimpse a Gal pagos Sea Lion pup playing with its mother; & observe a baby Pacific Green Turtle enter the water for the first time. These & dozens of other unforgettable scenes are all vividly captured here--including many moments that even experienced Gal pagos observers may never be lucky enough to see in person. Complete with a brief text that provides essential context, this book will be cherished by Gal pagos visitors & anyone else who wants to see incredible animals on the move. ...