ABOUT THE GALAPAGOS

600 miles off the western coast of Ecuador lies a group of islands so isolated that many of its creatures cannot be found anywhere else on earth. Welcome to the Galapagos, the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

On his 1835 expedition, Darwin found a cluster of islands that formed four to five million years ago when underwater volcanoes erupted in the Pacific Ocean. Today, these rock outcroppings, rivers of frozen lava, and coral beaches form a varied landscape that’s home to the islands’ collection of rare birds and animals.

In his journal, Darwin noted, “These islands seem to be a little world within themselves — a perennial source of new things.” It boggles the mind to think that the “new things” Darwin saw — the marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and giant tortoises — are the very same species you can see today, over 150 years later.

Over 1,900 species of plants and animals in the Galapagos cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. So here’s to experiencing flora and fauna you’ll find only here, aboard the only major cruise line sailing these waters.

There’s plenty to toast to and even more to do in the land that time seems to have passed by. Only Celebrity melds the wonder of wildlife with the rewards of the good life in one glorious week. Only on Celebrity Xpeditions can you spend your day photographing land iguanas nibbling on prickly pear cacti, and your night noshing on Celebrity’s signature gourmet dishes.

In fact, you couldn’t pick a better ship to sail the Galapagos. Because some would say our vessel, Celebrity Xpedition, is a discovery in its own right. With a mere 100 guests per sailing, a 2-to-1 guest-to-staff ratio, and elements of our signature Concierge Class service available in every stateroom, getting to the islands is almost as singular an experience as the Galapagos themselves.