The past 20 months have certainly taught us that travel is a precious gift and privilege we can’t take for granted but I have also realized that my desire – even urge – to travel has never been stronger. I also firmly believe that COVID-19 is here to stay, it will eventually transition from a pandemic to being endemic, but it is absolutely possible to coexist with the virus (governments working together on a unified approach would certainly be helpful but the advent of Omicron has yet again shown that every country, or sometimes even region is determined to put their own random measures in place, so this remains wishful thinking on my part).

Golden beaches, exotic wildlife and dramatic landscapes make up the other-worldly Galapagos Islands, a Luxury Gold favorite and must see on any keen traveler’s bucket list. To find out more about this breathtaking destination, we caught up with travel journalist Dorothy Weiner, to discuss her time spent there and why she considers it to be “like no place on earth.” 

A remote volcanic archipelago best known for its incredible wildlife, it took Charles Darwin’s 1859 work, On The Origin of the Species, to really put the Galapagos Islands on the map. As the area emerged into the public eye, the Galapagos became a protected site, with 97 per cent of its landmass given National Park status in 1959, and additional UNESCO designations bestowed in 1978. Thanks to these precautions, visitors today can still walk by giant tortoises, catch lizards sunbathing, and swim with bottlenose dolphins. To help you navigate this ecologically diverse and fragile territory (scattered over almost 18,000 square miles), we’ve put together the perfect guide that covers all the essentials, from geographical wonders to foodie delights.