ThereisnoplaceonEarthliketheGalápagosIslands.FarouttoseainthePacificOcean,thisseriesof islands–partofEcuadorsNationalParksystem--werecreatedoverthecourseoftimebyroaring volcanoesandtitanicgeothermicupheavals. WhenCharlesDarwinvisitedin1835,heobservedapristine,naturally-isolatedlivinglaboratorythat wouldinspireandrefinehistheories,whichhewouldreleaseupontheworld-toshatteringeffect- decadeslater.Theislandshavenotlosttheirabilitytoinspire:themagicDarwinfoundover150years agoisstillthrivinginthisremarkableenvironment.Hereyoucanwalkamonguniquespeciessuchas marineiguanasbaskinginthesunandobservetheelaboratematingritualsofblue-footedboobies, albatrosses,andfrigatebirds.Unthreatenedbypredators,Galápagoscreaturesareundisturbedby visitors,whocangetupclosetocreaturesgreatandsmall. AtMetropolitanTouringwebelievethewaytoseetheGalápagosistoexploretheminsmallgroups, withplentyoftimetostroll,snorkel,swim,photograph,paint,birdwatch,stargazeandexperienceeach island,withcomfort,personalizedserviceandknowledgeableenvironmentalinterpretation,andrespect. Galápagos 39