Explore the Magic of the Galápagos Islands With These Fun books about the adventure travel destination.

Formed by volcanic activity, the Galápagos island archipelago to the west of continental Ecuador has long been a haven for nature lovers. Although the islands only claim a human population of just over 25,000, they are abundant in endemic species and breathtaking scenery. Explorers and pirates visited the area as early as the 16th century; however, it was not until Charles Darwin traveled to the islands aboard the Beagle in 1835 that the area’s spectacular natural ecosystem was brought to the public’s attention. Darwin's time in the Galápagos was his inspiration for outlining his theory of evolution in “The Origin of Species.”

During the past decade, travel and tourism to the Galápagos tours have opened up and become accessible to an increasing number of adventurous travelers. Whether you already have a Galápagos vacation planned or are looking for a unique travel destination, the following books are sure to provide plenty of inspiration.

“The Evolution of Jane”
Cathleen Schine
(1998-Houghton Mifflin)

After her short-lived marriage dissolves, 25-year-old Jane Schwartz accepts a birthday trip to the Galápagos from her mother. Jane has always been infatuated with Charles Darwin and the time that he spent studying the flora and fauna of the archipelago, so she quickly accepts. When she arrives, Jane unexpectedly runs into her close childhood friend and cousin, Martha Barlow, who is to be her tour guide. Although the pair had been almost as close as sisters for more than a decade, their friendship suddenly evaporated for reasons that are unclear to Jane. As she explores how the various plants and wildlife of the Galápagos transformed over time, Jane seeks to identify and understand the transformation of her relationship with Martha.

“The Beak of the Finch”
Jonathan Weiner
(1994-Alfred A. Knopf)

This Pulitzer Prize-winning work follows a 20-year effort by Peter and Rosemary Grant and a group of Princeton University biologists as they examine the strength of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The group spent two decades studying 13 species of finch on the island of Daphne Major in the Galápagos. The group was astounded to find that the beak size of the finch changed substantially during the course of the study indicating that the process of natural selection can occur much faster than previously thought. Along with details of the groundbreaking research, Weiner provides insight into both human and natural history.

“Galápagos”
Kurt Vonnegut
(1985-Delacorte Press)

In a novel that combines satire, fantasy, and science fiction, Vonnegut transports the reader back one million years to the year 1986. In a post-apocalyptic world featuring a number of global crises, including a world war, famine, and economic collapse, an unlikely group of characters set sail for the fictional Galápagos island tours of Santa Rosalia and become shipwrecked. In addition to celebrities, the group includes a former male prostitute, a teacher, and an Ecuadorean sea captain. As a virus threatens to make most of the world infertile and end the human race, only the stranded travelers can produce an evolved version of the human species that no longer resembles humankind as we know it.