Ecuador’s Isla de la Plata should be a bucket-list destination for wildlife lovers on a budget, offering opportunities to see as many as six of the iconic “Big 15” Galápagos species.

This aptly-named lakefront town is a paradise for people looking to enjoy a lakeside vacation, including fishing, paddle boarding, and even an alpine coaster.

The discovery of Bolg amondol, a name drawn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, sheds new light on the complex ...