There are a lot of amazing places in the world, places I love, and places I crave and want to go back to. So it feels a little wild and crazy for me to say this-The Galápagos is the best place I have ever been. Spending a week leading a trip there felt like walking in a dream.

The animals are truly spectacular, beyond words really. Sea lions lying on park benches and positioned haphazardly on sidewalks and beaches. Scattering bright orange crabs making their way across black volcanic rock and even sharks swirling around the waters as we ate dinner above. As we pulled into the pier at Isabela Island penguins darted in the waters below. We walked in the misty highlands posing near giant tortoises that weighed over 500 pounds and were over one hundred years old. We screeched the first time we spotted a blue footed boobie on a rock only to freeze in awe as a hundred of them perched near our boat a few days later. The red throats of the frigates pulsed, and the lizards did fast push-ups, all trying their hands at finding a mate.

I am a hesitant snorkeler, but I told myself before this trip that I was going to do it because this is not like snorkeling in the Caribbean and I am so glad I did. We swam with multiple giant sea turtles and paddled over an eight-foot shark snuggled into the sand. Sea iguanas, that only exist in the Galápagos, bobbed in the water and iridescent rainbow fish swam by my outstretched hands. It was spectacular.

The landscapes are awe inducing and diverse. Traversing over so many microclimates meant misty grey highland air, warm tropical sun on a white sand beach, craggy volcanic rock and an uninhabited island that felt otherworldly in its quiet peace and stretches of dessert like landscapes.

What people may not realize when they think of the Galápagos is that 30,000 people live there, 20,000 residing in Santa Cruz. This town is adorable with great restaurants, little cafes, and shops of all kinds. (Of course there are resident animals too!) Puerto Villamil, the tiny surfer-like town on the island of Isabela had a completely distinct feel with sand laden streets and a slow pace. We could step out of our hotel and walk five minutes to see wild flamingos.

The people everywhere we went were warm and welcoming and had interesting stories. We particularly loved Audriano, a pioneer in Galápagos terms. He came to the islands fifty years ago on a ship that took 6 nights from mainland Ecuador. He was charming and funny, encouraging us to take shots of his homemade moonshine at 10:30am. We bought bag after bag of his self-grown and roasted coffee. He was just one of many smiling locals that shared sheer enthusiasm for their crafts.

I can’t talk about this trip without also talking about the women that joined me. They were open, excited, flexible, and so fun. We shared moments of awe together and laughed so hard day after day. It never ceases to amaze me that women come alone, as strangers, and after the first night become friends. I think the magic of this place was especially bonding.

The Galápagos is on pretty much everyone’s bucket list and I can see why. It lived up to every single thing I could have ever imagined and more. In fact, it does not even feel real it was so beautiful. I am grateful for every animal, ever landscape, for every warm person we encountered and for our group. Galápagos-you have my heart.