After visiting the Galapagos Islands this summer, I became curious about the natural history of this fascinating region that is both remote and vibrant. “The Voyage of The Beagle” is a journal written by Charles Darwin on his 5-year voyage aboard a naval survey brig between 1831 and 1836. During his visits to South America Darwin’s vessel made a stop in September 1835 in the Galapagos Islands that became the foundation for his study of evolution and led to the eventual publication of “On the Origin of Species”.
I am fascinated by the intimate details of his travels and the harsh and often dangerous conditions that made his journey most improbable. His total embrace of the largely unknown people, cultures and species of South America and the Galapagos is inspiring of the adventurer in all of us. Darwin’s story challenges all of us to find our passion through exploration and embracing a certain amount of risk. While certainly more developed than during Darwin’s visit, even today the Galapagos Islands maintain an air of mystery and natural splendor.