The Galápagos Islands are known worldwide for their unique ecosystems. The islands are often described as pristine and untouched by human activity, reinforcing an imaginary of the Galápagos as a “living laboratory” where humans can observe nature that is uninfluenced by man. However, human presence in the archipelago can be traced back to the mid-sixteenth century. Since the first recorded human arrival in 1535, representations of the islands have fluctuated according to both local and international geopolitics, varying from the “end of the world” to a “tourist treasure.” In this chapter, we present a recount of cultural imaginaries of the Galápagos Islands over time through a discourse analysis of selected materials (e.g., governmental documents, visitors’ diaries, governmental reports, tourist brochures). We believe that on-island and off-island imaginaries of the Galápagos (re)shape local politics, demographics, social relationships, environmental policies, and cultural identities.