Off the coast of the Galapagos Islands, the ocean teems with sea lions, penguins, and dive-bombing boobies. The moment you plunge into the sea, you'll soon find yourself within sight of some kind of living creature. And land adventures in the Galapagos are equally enthralling: Bold animals recklessly approach human invaders, unconcerned. Given the fearlessness of the endemic animal populations, it's easy to see why the Galapagos are known as "the enchanted islands."

Pictures are probably better suited than words to give voice to the magic of the Galapagos. So here are 10 photos from my recent trip, a seven-night cruise aboard La Pinta. To learn more about traveling to the Galapagos, read Trip Report: Cruising the Galapagos.