Located around 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the Galápagos Islands comprises 19 islands and dozens of islets that were formed by a series of volcanic eruptions fairly recently, in geologic terms—most of the islands emerged from the ocean less than 1 million years ago.

The islands are best known as the site of Charles Darwin’s research. He spent 19 days studying the region’s flora and fauna in 1835 and published his findings in 1859 in his landmark work On the Origin of Species.

Since then, the Galápagos Islands have steadily grown as a popular tourist destination. The islands were designated as Ecuador’s first national park in 1959 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site 20 years later.

Today, the archipelago is visited by more than 200,000 tourists per year who come to see a number of attractions, including the following five.

1. Puerto Ayora

A centrally located island of the Galápagos archipelago, Santa Cruz Island features plenty of activities for those who have explored enough of the Galápagos’ wildlife and natural surroundings. In addition to offering accommodations near sites like El Chato Tortoise Reserve and Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz’s capital, Puerto Ayora, is home to several nightclubs, shops, and restaurants.

The town is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Fish Market, and a series of geologically formed pools known as Las Grietas. Puerto Ayora can be explored entirely on foot or by bicycle; there are several bike shops on the main road, Charles Darwin Avenue.

2. Tortuga Bay

This isolated white sand beach, located along the southern coastline of Santa Cruz Island, is a favorite among tourists—but not for lounging and tanning.

The area is densely populated by marine turtles, and, between January and February, visitors may even happen upon black turtles laying their eggs. Other wildlife such as Sally Lightfoot crabs and marine iguanas can be found along the beach as well.

Tortuga Bay, open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., can be accessed from Puerto Ayora, but it can be a challenging hike in the hot sun, so it’s best to walk there early in the morning. Those walking along the 2,500-meter path to the bay often come across lava lizards and various bird species.

Because of strong currents, Playa Brava, the beach near the bay’s entrance, isn’t suitable for swimming. However, it is safe to swim in the bay’s second beach, Playa Mansa, a protected and shaded bay. Other water-based recreation activities available at Playa Mansa include kayaking and snorkeling.

3. El Chato Tortoise Reserve

Another popular attraction located on Santa Cruz Island is the El Chato Tortoise Reserve, which can be accessed via taxi from Puerto Ayora or by foot along an unpaved trail from the village of Santa Rosa. Entry to the wildlife sanctuary costs only $3 and includes a guided tour in addition to access to its lava tunnels, gift shop, and restaurant. Visitors can climb into empty tortoise shells for photo opportunities.

However, the primary reason most visit El Chato Tortoise Reserve, naturally, is to come face-to-face with giant tortoises. The reserve is one of the few areas where guests can see the reptiles in their natural habitat.

El Chato is preserved by rangers who hunt the tortoise’s predators and construct fortified walls to prevent other animals from entering. That doesn’t mean that giant tortoises are the only animals in the reserve, however; Darwin finches and short-eared owls are known to roost there as well. For a less crowded experience, visitors can go to nearby Rancho Primicias, which also has several giant tortoises.

4. Volcán Alcedo

Though there are giant tortoises in Volcán Alcedo, they are more of a secondary attraction here. That’s because Volcán Alcedo is a 1,097-meter-high volcano best known for its 7-kilometer-wide caldera and steaming fumaroles.

Visitors can purchase permits to hike the trail ascending the volcano, which takes around seven hours, and camp near the summit. Tortoises are found along the trail in ancient craters, active fumaroles, pools, and lava flows. They are particularly easy to spot from June to December.

In addition, hikers can take in incredible views of the nearby Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island.

5. MAPRAE

The Museo de Arte Precolombino de Realidad Aumentada (MAPRAE), or Augmented Reality Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, includes more than 50 pre-Columbian artifacts unique to the cultures of the Amazon and coastal regions of Ecuador.

Other Galápagos museums, like San Cristobal Island’s Centro de Interpretación, focus on the human history of the archipelago, but MAPRAE emphasizes continental Ecuadorian history with a focus on its anthropological and cultural roots.

To get the most out of their visit to MAPRAE, visitors must download a museum-specific app on their smartphone. Once they point their phone at one of the museum’s artifacts, it displays that item’s cultural relevance and historical context.