Penguins are awfully quick in the water.

They look awkward as they toddle about on land, but underwater they flash by you, slightly bobbing as they go. It's like seeing a short fat sausage with wings zip across your path.

Swimming with a penguin was pretty much at the top of my list when I went to the Galapagos Islands in late June. After all, outside of venturing to the southern end of South America, where else would I get the chance? Plus, the water here was warm. Not an Antarctic iceberg in site.

Like much of the Galapagos wildlife, the penguins here are an anomaly, the only population of the flightless aquatic birds north (just) of the equator.

Galapagos Tortoise

And like many of these animals, the penguins seem pretty much unperturbed by the presence of humans. The one my traveling companion and I saw didn't swim close enough to be touched, but it did whip by just beyond arm's reach. Similarly, on visits to other islands, boobies and frigatebirds sat comfortably in their nesting areas while we snapped photos a few feet away. Iguanas lounged like they owned the place. And sea lions draped themselves on seaside benches and rested on walkways like stray dogs.

Finding wildlife is not a problem.

But each of the archipelago's many islands -- 13 to 18 major islands, depending upon how you define "major," a handful of smaller islands and just over 100 rocks and islets -- has its own unique environs, attracting its own combination of the area's animals and, often, a collection of flora not found anywhere else.

The biggest decision to make when planning a trip is what islands offer the combinations you want to see and whether to take a cruise.

Sleeping sea lions Galapagos

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Galapagos Islands a natural selection for travelers who love the unusual