Photo by: Enzo Barracco

Enzo Barracco

The Galápagos Islands: In Darwin's Wake

By: Enzo Barracco and The Explorers Club

From the pages of The Explorers Journal, climate change artist Enzo Barracco takes us on a remarkable journey into The Galápagos Islands, capturing the unique ecosystem that inspired Charles Darwin's groundbreaking work on evolution and natural selection.

February 03, 2021

"By far the most remarkable feature in the natural history of this archipelago…is that the different islands to a considerable extent are inhabited by a different set of beings…I never dreamed that islands, about fifty or sixty miles apart, and most of them in sight of each other, formed of precisely the same rocks, placed under a quite similar climate, rising to a nearly equal height, would have been differently tenanted.…It is the fate of most voyagers, no sooner to discover what is most interesting in any locality, than they are hurried from it; but I ought, perhaps to be thankful that I obtained sufficient materials to establish this most remarkable fact in the distribution of organic beings.” – Charles Darwin, Journal and Remarks, 1832-1836

Sunset on Kicker Rock off the Northwest Coast of San Cristóbal.

Photo by: Enzo Barracco

Enzo Barracco

Sunset on Kicker Rock off the Northwest Coast of San Cristóbal.

It has been nearly two centuries since the British naturalist Charles Darwin embarked on a five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, during which he visited the Galápagos, in 1835. Recording his observations in his Journal and Remarks, published in 1839 and posthumously re-titled The Voyage of the Beagle, Darwin was struck by the evolutionary diversity that existed within such a small geographical region. It was during his travels through this volcanic archipelago that the foundations were laid for his groundbreaking work on natural selection.

Inspired by Darwin’s voyage, I have long dreamed of visiting the Galápagos, but it wasn’t until I completed my first book, The Noise of Ice: Antarctica, that I realized how much the unique ecosystem of the islands was influenced by the ocean currents emanating from the White Continent. For me, that alone was reason enough to make the Galápagos the focus of my most recent documentary project.

A Blue-Footed Booby (Sula Nebouxii) perches on Kicker Rock in the Galápagos Islands.

Photo by: Enzo Barracco

Enzo Barracco

A Blue-Footed Booby (Sula Nebouxii) perches on Kicker Rock in the Galápagos Islands.

My travels there this past February took me to the islands of Santa Cruz, Santa Fé, San Cristóbal, Española, Floreana, Isabela, and Fernandina, where over the course of nearly a month I was able to commune with extraordinary wildlife—both on land and offshore. For me, the voyage was a journey back in time, the fragile beauty and biological diversity of the Galápagos evincing a raw, primal age before the dawn of humankind.

About Enzo Barracco

Having made his mark in the fashion industry, London-based Italian photographer Enzo Barracco has recently turned his lens onto the natural world, having had a passion for nature and environmental conservation since an early age. His images, which have graced the pages of Vogue Italia, have been exhibited at the Royal Geographical Society in London. His most recent book, The Noise of Ice: Antarctica, with a foreword by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, was published by Merrell in 2016. For more on his work, visit enzobarracco.com.

This story originally appeared in the pages of The Explorers Journal, the official quarterly of The Explorers Club since 1921. From vast ocean depths to the frontiers of outer space, The Explorers Journal offers readers first-hand reporting from those pushing the limits of knowledge and human endurance. For more stories, subscribe today.

The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club, a non-profit world leader in exploration. Since its inception in 1904, members of the Club have traversed the earth, the seas, the skies, and even the moon, on expeditions of exploration.

Next Up

Panama has Hundreds of Islands, Each More Beautiful than the Last

Panama is often overlooked for its more famous neighbors Colombia and Costa Rica, who are renowned worldwide for their biodiversity, colorful cultures, and jaw-dropping scenery. But Panama, which links Central and South America, has a few of its own gems to offer – including the 1,400-plus islands that dot its coast.

Belize's Jungles are Wild, Mysterious and Full of Discovery

More than half of Belize, a Central American country with as many as 2 million indigenous Mayan inhabitants, is covered in dense, sprawling jungle – meaning the region has adventures galore for any traveler wishing to explore.

A Spanish Sunken Galleon Has a $17B Bounty Onboard - and Now You Can See It

Way back in 1708, when the War of Spanish Succession was waging across Europe and Latin America to decide who should be the next King of Spain, three Spanish galleons set sail from Panama. They were loaded to the brim with gold, silver, emeralds, and other jewels that had been extracted from the mines of Bolivia – and were vital in financing Spain’s costly war against its enemies.

Meet the Ancient Egyptian Gods Who Empower DC Comic's Black Adam

Get to know the six ancient Egyptian gods behind the latest DC Comics film Black Adam, starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, in theaters starting October 21.

Giant’s Causeway: The Fascinating Legend Behind Ireland’s Most Famous Landmark

The Giant’s Causeway is known around the world for its beautiful interlocking basalt columns – over 40,000 of them in fact – which look out towards the stormy, gray North Channel.

A Canadian Teen Once Discovered an Ancient Temple – Using Google Maps

Most teenagers while away hours playing video games, scrolling TikTok, or texting friends. Not William Gadoury, a 14-year-old from Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec. Back in 2016, Gadoury was holed up in his bedroom, plotting ancient Mayan constellations against modern satellite images and coordinates.

What's Inside the Secret Chambers in the Pyramids of Giza

A powerful new cosmic ray scan of the Great Pyramid of Giza could finally reveal what’s inside two voids in the structure that have baffled scientists for years.

The Eight Faces Of The Great Pyramid Of Giza

This ancient structure has more sides than you think.

Can You Name the New Seven Wonders of the World?

Millions of people voted these magnificent places as the "new" seven wonders of the world.

Discover this Quaint Gem on the English Coast

Tucked in the corner of the southwest of rugged England, lies one of the country’s most-loved gems – Cornwall. The county forms a peninsula fringed with golden sandy beaches, lined with towering cliffs, and dotted with picturesque fishing villages that harken back to days gone by.