Penguins, tortoises and adventure on the Galapagos Islands

The 13 main volcanic islands that make up the Galapagos Islands are home to unique wildlife, including the famous Galapagos tortoises and less well-known Galapagos penguins.

Famous for inspiring Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, the islands also have one of rarest and most unusual penguin species in the world.

And with the animated penguin-adventure Happy Feet grabbing the nation's imagination this Christmas, 2007 is a great time to venture out and see these fascinating birds close-up.

Part of the Ecuador, the islands remain off the beaten track and make a great place to have an adventure holiday thanks to their opportunities for sailing, snorkelling, diving, and remote wildlife spotting.

There are several tours available, and most involve visits to the main island, Santa Cruz, where the Charles Darwin Research Centre is based.

At the centre visitors can see Galapagos tortoises with their young in a special nursery, as well as learn about the natural history of the islands and the work of researchers stationed there - including photos of recent volcanic eruptions and drawings of the evolution of the island's animals.

Also worth visiting is Rabida, which has a saltwater lagoon with flamingos and a beach where pelicans can be spotted.

For a chance to see the rare Galapagos penguins, the only species of penguin that lives on the equator, then holidaymakers should visit Bartolome. The island's unusual volcanic features are also a must-see.

More exciting bird varieties can be viewed on the Galapagos island of Seymour, which also has sea lions.

Adventure holiday specialists Intrepid travel are currently offering a 30 per cent discount on a six-day trip to the Galapagos Islands to celebrate the release of Warner Bros' family penguin film Happy Feet.

The company's adventure holiday costs £420 with the discount, not including a local payment of US$400 and a park entrance fee of US$100 to be paid on arrival.

The offer is valid for travel between January 1st and April 30th 2007 and bookings can be made any time before departure.

For more information see www.intrepidtravel.com/gsh

Other tour operators visiting the Galapagos Islands include Tribes, Andean Trails and Exodus

For more information on Ecuador see www.ecuador.com