I cruised the Galapagos Islands with Lindblad Expeditions on the National Geographic Endeavour from May 12 through May 19, 2012. The Galapagos Islands are a National Park controlled by the country of Ecuador. Which islands that can be visited is staggered to avoid overuse. No one is allowed unless accompanied by the licensed guide. Although there were other groups touring the islands, we never encountered them on any of the islands. My tour was a National Geographic Tour. The National Geographic Society has played a large role in the conservation of the islands and is granted special privileges for tours. We were restricted from approaching closer than 6 feet any bird or animal. Many times we had to back up to stay that distance. They came to us!