

The 750-mile journey to get to this remote archipelago, its nation's very first national park, is well worth the effort. It's home to one of the world's most surprising and vibrant ecosystems of plants and animals, with playful sea lions, dense mangrove forests, and clever songbirds that have learned to use cactus spines to dig bugs and grubs out of tree bark at dinnertime. You may even see the famous animals that gave the archipelago its name, some of whom were alive a century before you or anyone you know.

The wildlife may be old, but the islands themselves are shockingly young. They formed from volcanic activity that began just four or five million years ago, making them one of the newest landscapes on Earth. As you wander the stark black lava flows, you'll pass calderas that are still hot from eruptions less than a decade ago, with stone still warmed by pockets of magma bubbling just below. The violent underwater explosions that birthed the islands spattered volcanic rock and ash hundreds of feet into the air. When it landed, it formed cones that have eroded into spires like the one seen above.

Below this unusual peak, you'll find two crescent-shaped beaches streaked with a rainbow of colorful sand: black sand formed from basalt, red sand made up of powdery volcanic ash, and white sand of pulverized coral. It's a great spot to snorkel with the local penguins—but make sure you bring a wetsuit. Even this close to the Equator, the water can be chilly. Off to the north, skilled divers swim with the sharks around the 50-foot stone arch named for the archipelago's most famous visitor.



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Last month's winner

The winner of the October Where Are You contest is John Clavin of The Hills TX.