Stepping foot on these lands for the first time, it's hard not to stare in disbelief as hundreds of sunbathing iguanas block your path, completely unphased by human interference. Here the tortoises are older than the radio, lava oozes from ocean floors, and folklore says that lost&nbsp;treasure might still be found thanks to the pirates and buccaneers who prowled the waters in the 16th century.This isn’t an excerpt taken from a mythical legend, these are the Galápagos Islands.

While I've been designing trips to the <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/ecuador-galapagos-bespoke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Galápagos Islands</a> for years, the magic of stepping off the plane never fails to be an assault on all my senses. Travellers have been crossing off the Islands as one of those once-in-a-lifetime destinations for decades—and rightfully so.With its lunar-like landscapes and rare flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth, it's an other-worldly haven.&nbsp;A haven and a vibrant backdrop for a family adventure.Getting up close with wildlife isn’t only magical for the kids, the close encounters with multiple species are something to engage you at any age. Learning about this ecosystem never stops, and what better way to adventure with multiple generations?

George Butterfield called on his family of 13 to join him on a trip, the challenge was to find a destination and itinerary that appeals to everyone – from 83-year-old George and 9-year-old granddaughter Ellie. But when you travel to the Galápagos, you’ll find it’s a place that keeps families together. Or in George’s words: “the perfect family trip.”&nbsp;“There are very few perfect family trips,” George says. “You must have something that appeals to everyone, so it's hard to encompass something that’s interesting for all age groups. Animal life and bird life are two of them, and that’s why the Galápagos is the perfect trip. It’s just like an African safari. There’s life on land and life in the water, and you’re all together exploring at the same time. There are no diversions.”Over 17 days, the Butterfields were able to reconnect after being straddled across the globe for the first time in two years thanks to a certain pandemic. By day they spotted rare animals like the blue-footed boobie; snorkelled, surfed, kayaked and hiked through white sand beaches and turquoise waters; and learned about Charles Darwin’s rare discoveries alongside naturalist guides. By night they motored to the next island via a 16-passenger private yacht, allowing the freedom to explore the lesser-known islands, each with its own unique wildlife (which is in fact our <a href="https://butterfield.com/get-inspired/a-boat-cruise-around-the-galapagos-islands" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">favourite way</a> to see the Galápagos!). When they weren't cruising the waters, the Butterfields also stayed at Galápagos Safari Camp, an intimate glamping experience comprising luxury tented camps, similar to what you would see in Africa.

The Butterfields Take On The Galápagos

While the Galápagos can be compared to an African safari, the animals here are much more up-close-and-personal; because of the harmonious existence with humans, the animals are not afraid of us. Iguanas mingle with sea lions, 600 lb giant tortoises meander along in groups and the various birds observe it all from above (or below in the penguin's case!).“I don’t think I know a place in the world where human beings haven’t taken it and changed it,” George said. “On these islands, there’s nothing except the way life was thousands of years ago. It’s very primeval. When you step around the iguanas, they don’t move. They don’t even scatter. That’s because human beings haven’t been predators to them, whereas in so much of the world human beings have killed them off.”But maintaining one of the world’s last Shangri-La is no easy task. The islands are 97% National Park and governed by a special law that restricts the number of travellers that can visit. And with more and more travellers looking to explore far-flung, remote, bucket-list destinations, it’s often advised to book a full year in advance for normal travel and 2 or more years in advance for festive dates and school holidays.

The Last Shangri-La

For George, the exclusivity of the island was what made it so appealing for a family trip in the first place. People should want to visit the Galápagos because they limit the number of visitors. The privacy is in fact one of the best parts, and sharing that special magic with loved ones is bound to create memories to last a lifetime.&nbsp;But you don't have to take it from George, take it from the grandkids themselves! From snorkelling among hammerhead sharks to watching unique birdlife at Darwin's Research Centre, we asked George’s family to share their most memorable trip highlights.&nbsp;

Feeling inspired to make this experience your own? Get in touch with Veronika Macas to start planning your next family adventure.

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<h2>Wildlife as Unique as The Islands Themselves</h2>
All of the islands in the Galápagos are unique, differing in landscape, plant life, and animals. Most islands have species and foliage that are exclusive to that particular island and not found anywhere else on earth. Animals in the Galápagos do not fear humans, which at first is hard to wrap your head around. But with few predators on the islands, the animals live in leisure.
They are fascinating creatures, living in perfect harmony, and are ever-evolving and making use of what each island offers. For example, on Isabela you&#8217;ll see sea lions napping on (yes, literally on!) marine iguanas, both of them living alongside crabs, cormorants, Galápagos penguins and blue footed boobies.
<figure id="attachment_24760" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-24760" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-24760 size-large" src="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Sea-Lion-new-blog-960x400.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="400" srcset="https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Sea-Lion-new-blog.jpg 960w, https://blog.butterfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Sea-Lion-new-blog-480x200.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-24760" class="wp-caption-text">On Isabela, sea lions and iguanas get along so well, they use each other as pillows!</figcaption></figure>
San Cristóbal, meanwhile, features thundering mountains built up by years of volcanic ash on one side of the island, and the most picture-perfect, sea lion-clad beaches on the opposite side. There are islands like Floreana, whose waters are so crystal clear that you can see sharks, sea turtles and rays swimming in the bay from atop the Baroness’s lookout, and later snorkel with playful groups of sea lions at Post Office Bay.
The enchanted isles are just that, a safe haven for all those who live and visit the Galápagos. While I may have been amiss thinking that I had landed on Mars, the Galápagos does feel like a fantasy land, but not another planet exactly—more like Eden. They are like no other place on earth, and I hope it remains this way forever.

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<h4>Into the Wild Green Yonder</h4>
<figure id="attachment_3415" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3415" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3415 " title="Canopy Walk" src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Canopy-Walk-300x200.jpg" alt="Amazon Canopy Walk" width="300" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3415" class="wp-caption-text">Taking in the treetop views on the canopy walk.</figcaption></figure>
From the elevation of the Andes, the family next headed deep into the Ecuadorian portion of the Amazon rainforest, where they stayed at a remote forest lodge.
&#8220;At this particular lodge, they had what’s called a canopy walk where you climb up what’s like 10 flights of stairs so you&#8217;re above the trees,&#8221; Jeneen says. &#8220;The views were just incredible.&#8221;
But even better than the treetop views were the rainforests inhabitants—human and otherwise.
<figure id="attachment_3449" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3449" style="width: 112px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-3449 " title="Nature Walk " src="http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_8812-112x200.jpg" alt="Amazon Nature Walk " width="112" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3449" class="wp-caption-text">Amazon nature walks left &#8220;quite an impression on the kids.&#8221;</figcaption></figure>
&#8220;What left quite an impression on the kids was when we were in the Amazon we would go off on these nature walks with a local guide from a nearby village, and he was amazing,&#8221; Jeneen recalls. &#8220;We’d be walking around and he’d hear a crazy noise from far away, and he’d point up and we’d see monkeys up there. People who live there, they’re so in tune with their surroundings.&#8221;
By the end of the trip, Jeneen, her husband and their two young kids took in a historic city centre, the top of the Andes mountains, the depth of the Amazon rainforest and the majesty of the Galapagos Islands—all in the span of two weeks.
&#8220;I’d love to <a title="B&amp;R Family Trips " href="http://www.butterfield.com/ways-to-go/family/" target="_blank">take the kids</a> on one really cool trip like this once a year. They just learned so much,&#8221; Jeneen says.

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