Hi SCB,
I completely agree with D360 that this is a good place to have an actual tour planned. It is virtually impossible to explore the 18 Galapagos Islands completely without the aid of a tour operator, so it's best to hook up with a company that offers Galapagos tours.There are A LOT of boats to choose from- they all leave on different days, there are different luxury levels, different focuses, etc. Travelers can choose a super-luxury experience aboard classy cruise ships, or live out a travel-adventure on a catamaran. In either case, a trip to this tropical paradise should allow for plenty of time outdoors. Boat tours tend to range anywhere from $800 US to $2,500 US per person.
Regardless of how you go, you will have the chance to see sea lions, iguanas, flamingos, the famous giant tortoise, and the lava lizard. Did you know that on and around the Galapagos Islands there are 300 species of fish, 1,600 types of insects, 80 types of spiders, and 300 beetles- but only two mammals (the rat and the bat).
For more general information on the Galapagos Islands, I reccomend the following links:
The Galapagos Conservancy:
http://www.galapagos.org/
The Charles Darwin Foundation:
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/
An awesome photo gallery from National Geographic:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...ies/galapagos/
Let me know if you'd like more specific information on planning a tour to the Galapagos Islands! A trip to the Galapagos is truly a trip of a lifetime!