As with any typology of tourists, the adventure tourist does not fit into a tightly defined set of personality characteristics and is considered not to have homogeneous tastes or competencies in adventurous activities. Soft adventures usually take part in activities with a perceived risk but low levels of real risk requiring minimal commitment and beginning skills’ (Hill, 1995: 63). These tourists are usually novices in the realm of adventure, and enjoy ‘safe’ activities that necessitate limited or no previous experience-for instance, bird watching on the Galapagos Islands off mainland Ecuador, whale watching off Vancouver Island, Canada, or going on a commercially organized hiking trip to the Picos de Europa, Spain.