Meet the people of the Galápagos Islands

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"For a long time, tourists coming to the Galápagos didn’t realise we were here,” says artist Magno Bennett. It’s understandable, he says, because for decades, tourism focused on the animals, with little investment in the infrastructure.

The charming Galapagueñian (the name for a local in the Galápagos) smiles as he speaks, his eyes alive with passion for the thriving Santa Cruz community to which he belongs.

“But that’s changing; specialist tour companies are introducing our arts, craft, dance and way of life. Visitors are realising there’s much more to see and that the humans of the Galápagos are interesting.”