40 Trips To Change Your World
Galápagos
Explore these biologically diverse islands, still a hub for groundbreaking biological research nearly two centuries after Darwin's first visit. Sign up for a Lindblad Expeditions trip and board either the 80-passenger Polaris or the 48-guest Islander. Watch giant tortoises foraging, swim with penguins and sea lions, and tour the Charles Darwin Research Center in Santa Cruz.
Trip Tip: The best time for snorkeling is February through March, when marine turtles emerge.
Luxury Level: Cabins on the Islander and Polaris are relatively spacious, with private bathrooms. Bonuses: yoga classes and a spa.
Lindblad Expeditions; 800/397-3348; expeditions.com; $4,320 per person; operating weekly.