Galapagos tours reveal many things to the discerning traveler on the Explorer II; science, ecology, adventure, and history. While certainly the Galapagos are known for the birthplace of Darwin's theory of evolution, their overall historical relevance to South America and Spain is also quite unique. Families seeking historical sagas are bound to be intrigued by some of the little known facts the Islands reveal when on a Galapagos island tour.
Before the birds, the turtles, the iguanas were ever discovered by Darwin, lies a rich past of pre-Columbian adventure. Artifacts from the Montenos, the very early settlers of Ecuador and other areas of Latin America, have been uncovered on the Islands, although it was likely they never settled there. Known for their voracious appetite for sea travel, the indigenous Montenos built rafts and discovered the Galapagos by accidentally drifting south.
Yet, the crew on the Explorer II, along with the interpretation center will tell you of yet another accident that occurred when Thomas de Berlanga, a Bishop from Panama, apparently drifted to the Galapagos as well. This accident went on to share the discovery of the Islands with the Western World in 1535, however. Berlanga's crew was near starvation but upon their arrival, found ponds filled with food along with the rich vegetation that saved their lives. He and his crew discovered animals, cactus, and tide pools filled with marine and animal wonders that kept them from perishing.
The first formal expedition came after a series of pirates and swashbucklers had visited the Galapagos. In 1684, Captain John Cook from Bachelor's Delight, the ship that had also attacked ships in Peruvian waters, made their way to the Galapagos and much more was discovered and written about by two crew members, William Dampier and Ambrose, as they described the rich flora and fauna of the area.
In subsequent expeditions to the Islands, some giant tortoises were absconded from the Galapagos, among other wildlife, and slowly a steady but identifiable stream of information and science was shared with the world. Ecuador went on to claim on the Islands in 1832, making it first a penal colony and later settling the Galapagos more formally by developing civil, governmental, and educational structures.
While the Islands are known widely for Darwin's evolutionary theories, the facts remain that several hundred years prior, accidental adventurers drifting south on their rafts, followed by Captain Cook's first visit on his small flotilla. This historical record reveals a richness of nature discovered by others and undoubtedly led further discovery of this most unusual biological paradise on earth.
There is much more intrigue about the settling of the Islands that family history buffs can enjoy when on a Galapagos tour. It is quite possible that without some of these early forays word about animal, bird, and topographical qualities might have taken far longer to reach the rest of the world. The library onboard the Explorer II, it's well-versed crew, as well as trips to various islands' information centers, reveals much history about men who first discovered the Islands, which led to Darwin's later adventure on the Beagle.
Families who love history and nature will love the opportunity to gain even more in-depth knowledge about the humans who discovered this magical place. The historical backdrop provides dimension to the richness of the wildlife you'll see when taking a Galapagos tour.
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