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The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are the result of ancient volcanic eruptions from beneath the sea. The crusts of hardened lava that form them are black and forbidding. But the islands surprise the eye with their bursts of brilliant colors.
Whether it’s the flash of a yellow Galapagos warbler in a tree branch, or the red and green costume of the Christmas iguana, or the bright orange shells of the crabs — known as Sally Lightfoot crabs — colors abound.
The famous blue-footed boobies have feet the color of lapis lazuli. Their red-footed cousins seem to have dipped their toes in raspberry juice. But the most striking color of all comes from the inflated breast pouch of the courting male frigatebird — a brilliant red balloon.
Granted, the giant tortoises of the Galapagos are not the most colorful creatures on the planet, but they are the epitome of Galapagos, residents here long before any human set foot onto the otherwise colorful archipelago that is Galapagos.
Julie Hatfield, freelance travel writer and travelvideopostcard.com contributor, was a Boston Globe reporter for 22 years. She is now a Boston Globe and Boston Courant correspondent, guest blogger for AllThingsCruise.com, writer for Global Traveler Magazine and contributor to passportnewsletter.com, visualtraveltours.com, Met Golfer Magazine and Bay Area News Group She is the Boston and international examiner for Examiner.com, an active member of Society of the American Travel Writers, writer for Where Boston Guest Book.
