Famous for their extraordinary wildlife and their critical role in the development of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, the Galápagos are also recognized as the second most volcanically active archipelago in the world, after Hawaii. Galapagos islands information, an overview of the history, approved activities for visitors, maps, facts and attractions for travelers. Galapagos consists of 127 islands, islets, and rocks, a number that continuously evolves due to volcanic activity, which creates new lava fields, islets, and even expands existing islands. In this map of Ecuador and Galapagos islands you will be able to see the isolated location of the archipelago. Galapagos Islands, island group of the eastern Pacific Ocean , administratively a province of Ecuador. The islands became internationally famous as a result of their being visited in 1835 by Charles Darwin; their unusual fauna contributed to his groundbreaking theories on natural selection.