Ecuador, as its name implies, straddles the equator. When combined with the Galapagos Islands, this land of startling contrasts offers wildlife enthusiasts the ultimate holiday. There are some 1650 bird species alone in an area the size of the UK. The staggering variety of terrain extends from the lush jungle of the Amazon Basin, across the desert-like paramo and perpetual snow-capped volcanoes of the high Andes, to the rocky marine paradise of the Galapagos archipelago.

Having risen from the seabed as a result of submarine volcanic activity, and never having been connected to another landmass, the Galapagos Islands have a unique biological identity. Millions of years of isolation have given rise to species endemic to the islands through the process of natural selection.

The absence of predators means that Galapagos wildlife shows little fear, and it's possible to get surprisingly close to birds and animals without disturbing them - a dream for any photographer! Due to the ocean's nutrient-rich currents, sealions, seals, dolphins and whales are present throughout the archipelago. The many bird species include the finches that provided the clues that helped Darwin develop his Theory of Evolution.

We have an Ecuador and Galapagos calendar, which has been compiled to show the best times to visit these amazing islands and view the unique wildlife at its best.