Official Language:
Spanish
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Currency:
US Dollar
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Population:
1990 Estimate: 12000 people.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Galapagos Islands: The climate of the Galapagos Islands varies from season to season and year to year, and there is quite a difference in temperature between the coastal areas and higher elevations. Due to the effect of the cool Humboldt Current, the climate of the Galapagos Islands is generally mild and dry, with the temperature rarely rising above 80°F/27°C.
January to April it is quite hot and the sun is very strong. Sudden showers can occur. May to July and October to December are cloudy months.
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966km (600 miles) W of continental Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands could have very well been discovered by Chimu people from the mainland of South America in the 15th century. The Incas could have had some knowledge of them too, however the first recorded arrival of humans to the islands was on March 10, 1535. A ship carrying a Spanish Bishop, Tomas de Berlanga, who was on a voyage from Panama to Peru, landed in the Galapagos after being swept from the coast by strong equatorial currents. Bishop Tomas reported his discovery to King Charles V. This is the first description we have of the giant tortoises, iguanas and birds of the Galapagos. The Bishop placed the four islands that he saw at approimately 1 degree south of the equator in latitude. On that basis they were shown in Ortelius' great Orbis Terrarum published in 1574 and named as Isolas de Galapagos. The Galapagos Islands were often known to sailors as Las Encantadas due to the strong currents. The earliest chart which has survived, was produced in 1685 by Englishman, Ambrose Cowley, who had also named most of the islands for the first time. When the demand for European goods grew, normal trade progressively replaced piracy. Whaling was a highly profitable business in the first half of the 19th century, however it caused decimation not only of the whales but also of the giant tortoises of the Galapagos. Visits to the islands were much more frequent by now. A new period began when Ecuador proclaimed its sovereignty over the Galapagos in 1832. With only a handful of permanent settlers at that time, their number had increased to 300 by 1835. The HMS Beagle arrived with Charles Darwin on board. Darwin had spent five weeks in the Galapagos collecting and preserving specimens from four separate islands.
In the years between the wars, many groups of Europeans attempted to settle here. Norwegians and Germans were the most determined however only a few of their descendants are there today.The Galapagos Islands are an experience of a lifetime. There is a large assortment of animals that can be found in the Galapagos. Cruise passengers will enojy seeing the incredible variety of birds such as penguins, albatrosses, herons, flamingos, boobies and many others. Diving here is excellent. Not only is this a very educational trip, but a trip with some of the finest island beaches in Ecuador.
There are many good snorkelling spots that offer the chance to see the varied underwater life of Galapagos. The Galápagos Islands offer some of the best wildlife viewing in the world, not only because the animals themselves are beautiful and interesting, but also because they are virtually fearless. Through a quirk of evolution, large predators failed to evolve here, with the result that all the islands' wild residents are endowed with a unique sense of security. This means that the famous blue-footed boobie will perform its awkwardly elegant two-stepped mating dance right under your nose, oblivious to your camera. Mockingbirds will hop onto your shoes. Adolescent sea lions will do figure eights to show off their swimming prowess as you snorkel among them. The local penguins (the only tropical species of penguin in the world) are, admittedly, a bit aloof, but even they aren't above using a snorkeler as a human shield as they attempt to sneak up on schools of tasty fish. In the Galápagos, you don't have to get downwind and peer through the bushes to get a glimpse at the wildlife. You do, however, have to be careful not to step on sleeping sea lions on the beach as you back up for a better photo, as responsible guides will remind you.
It's not easy to get to the Galápagos -- at press time, only two airlines were making the flight from the mainland -- and fares are certainly not cheap. The best way to see the islands is to book a berth in a local cruise ship, which vary widely in quality. The wildlife here, which so beguiled Charles Darwin and Herman Melville in the 19th century, is no less astonishing now than it was 150 years ago.
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago that consists of 13 big islands, six small islands, and more than 40 islets. Santa Cruz is the most populated island; its main town, Puerto Ayora, is the major city in the Galápagos. From here, you can arrange last-minute tours around the islands, day trips, and scuba-diving excursions. Santa Cruz is also home to the Darwin Research Station, where you can see giant land tortoises. San Cristóbal is the second-most populated island. Several tour boats begin their journeys from the port here, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno; the town is small, and there's not much to see on this island. Isabela is the largest island, but only the third-most populated. In general, most visitors only stop here on a guided tour. For more information about individual islands in the Galápagos. To see the best of what the Galápagos have to offer, there are more than 100 tourist ships that ply the seas. All boats need a permit and must register with the national park, so it's very difficult to use your own private craft. If you're prone to seasickness, you can take day trips from Puerto Ayora to Santa Fe, Plaza Island, North Seymour, and Bartolomé.
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Attractions |
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Bartolome Island Galapagos:
Bartolome is a small island located east of James Island. Bartolomé is famous for its dramatic vistas and barren volcanic landscape. You can climb more than 200 steps to reach the top of an extinct volcano. From here, you can look out over the ocean and see the oddly shaped Pinnacle Rock. Many snorkelers have spotted penguins off this island. Bartolome is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, a distinctive characteristic of this island. Swim and snorkel around the Pinnacle Rock, where penguins are can be seen. Tthe other side of the island offers a chance to see sea turtles nesting from January to March. Sharks swim close to the shore.
Cerro Dragon:
Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) is on the north side of Santa Cruz. Here, you will have the opportunity to see land iguanas that don't exist anywhere else in the world.
Devil's Crown:
This site is a volcanic crater that has been eroded by the waves. The inside of the crown is a perfect environment for coral reef that attracts other marine life, making this one of the best snorkeling sites in Galapagos. If you like snorkeling, this tour stop will make your travel to Galapagos island quite memorable.
Espanola:
Primarily a lava plateau. Here one can see a large sea lion colony and the curious Galápagos spotted thrush. There are also a larage number of Galápagos buzzards who thrive on a huge selection of iguanas and lizards.
Espańola Island (Punta Suarez):
Espanola is one of the most popular and attractive islands. The quantity and variety of wildlife here is remarkable. There is a high proportion of natural fauna. Between April and December you can see blue footed bobbies, masked boobies, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, swallow-tailed gulls, Espanola mockingbirds, shorebirds sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and an impressive blowhole.
Floreana:
A volcanic island that was a particular favorite of the British whalers who used this island as a postal station and resupply port. Sailors left their letters in large wooden barrels and ships going back to England would take their mail with them. Sailors arriving from Britain would leave barrels filled with correspondence and those calling on the island would forage until their long-awaited letters from home were found. Yachtsmen today leave their letters in barrels located there. Located on the northern part of the island, this area is known as "Post Office Bay".
Fernandina:
The largest colony of marine iguanas live here on Fernandina. These cold-blooded animals hug and cuddle with each other to warm up after swimming in from the ocean. Flightless cormorants also inhabit the island; even though these birds can't fly (they are the only flightless cormorants in the world), they still dry their wings in the sun, just like their flying ancestors used to do millions of years ago.
Floreana Island Galapagos:
Floreana is one of the most interesting Islands in the Galapagos with early human inhabitants that date back to the 1930's. One of the main attractions for tours on this Island is Punta Cormorant. At Punta Cormorant the landing is on a beach with green olivine sand. Several trails on the island allow you to explore and experience a brackish lagoon where long, skinny-legged flamingoes wade through the water, sifting shrimp with their curved bills. White-cheeked pintail ducks, stilts, and other shorebirds feed along with the flamingoes. The tour then takes a trail which goes over a hill to a stunning white beach consisting of ground coral where the green sea turtles nest.
Gardner Bay:
Cruise passengers can enjoy some beach time on their Galapagos tours. At this beach you can walk and watch sea lions, swim, and snorkel.
Genovesa Island Galapagos & Darwin Bay:
Genovesa Island is formed by the remaining edges of a large crater that is now mostly submerged. Genovesa is known as the bird island. Darwin Bay is filled with frigate birds and their bustling activity. Along the trail are pairs of swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gulls in the world and red-footed boobies, with their contrasting red feet and blue bills. Throughout the tour lava and yellow crowned herons, whimbrels and other birds feed near the shores of a tidal lagoon just beyond the rocky edge that faces the bay.
Genovesa (Tower):
Almost every Galápagos tourist brochure has a picture of a frigate bird puffing up its red neck in an attempt to attract females. Here on Genovesa, you'll have ample opportunities to see these birds in action. This island is also home to the largest colony of red-footed boobies. The snorkeling here is excellent. In the afternoon, you'll explore the other side of the island, where you can see masked boobies and storm petrels. If you're lucky, you might spot the elusive short-eared owl -- since these guys don't have predators, they are the only owls in the world that are diurnal. It's easiest to see them in June and July.
North Seymour Island:
North Seymour is a low, flat island located north of Baltra that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. During our tours to North Seymour we will see the following: fauna: sea lions, pelicans, blues footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, great frigate birds, shorebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, indigenous palo santo.
Isabela:
This is the largest island in the Galápagos. Darwin's Lake provides an excellent backdrop for dramatic photos of the sea. You'll also see lots of land iguanas here, and you can take a long hike to a scenic point, where you can see for miles around. When you first arrive on the island, you'll be able to examine graffiti that dates all the way to 1836. Some tour companies offer panga (dinghy) rides around Tagus Cove, where you will enter an underwater cave and have the opportunity to see the Galápagos penguins.
Puerto Ayora:
It is the largest town in the Galápagos. If you're arriving on your own, this is a good place to base yourself and organize your trip. The Moonrise Travel Agency, Av. Charles Darwin 00160 near the corner of Charles Binford (tel. 05/526-402; www.galapagosmoonrise.com), will be your best source of information. The staff is friendly and they can help you arrange a last-minute cruise of the Galápagos and independent tours around the islands.
Prince Philip's Steps:
At Prince Philip's steps, you climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. Here you will come upon an incredible number of masked boobies and red-footed boobies. On this island we can find frigate birds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, Darwin finches, turtles, marine iguanas, sea lions, pioneer plants, lava fields, red footed boobies, masked boobies, great frigate birds, storm petrels, red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls and short eared owls. The abundance of wildlife makes any travel to Galapagos Island spectacular. No Galapagos tour would be complete without this stop.
Puerto Egas:
This is a wonderful spot for taking pictures. Either at dawn or sunset, the light for photography is perfect. The lava and the black sand seem to catch fire and animals acquire a surreal quality. If you want to capture the beauty of your Galapagos tours, this may be the perfect spot.
Rabida Island:
One of the special features of Rabida is its amazing red color. This reddish color is due to a high percentage of oxidized iron that is present in the lava. Salt-water lagoons on the island are the home to flamingos and white-cheeked ducks. Brown Pelicans also can be found in the salt brushes. Walking up to the southeastern part of the island, there is an observatory from which the startling red color of the beach and rocks can be appreciated.
Santa Cruz:
You will most likely begin and end your trip to the Galápagos on Santa Cruz. If you plan on arranging your trip on your own, you should use Santa Cruz as your base. If you're looking for a luxury getaway, this island offers the only such choice: The Royal Palm Hotel. This island is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Center, where you can observe tortoises firsthand. Tours of the island also include stops at Los Gemelos (The Twins), two sinkholes that stand side by side. As you walk around Los Gemelos, you will have a good chance of spotting the beautiful vermilion flycatcher. Some companies will take you to a farm in the highlands, where you can see tortoises in the wild. It's exciting to see these enormous creatures crawling about, but I must warn you, it's either hot and sunny up here or cool and drizzly (depending on the seasons). After you see the tortoises, the tour continues on a long, boring hike to a small, unattractive lake. If you can, try to turn back after you see the tortoises. Finally, most trips make a stop at the lava tubes, where you can wander though underground tunnels created by the movement of hot lava.
Santiago Island James Bay:
On the northwestern side of the island is South James Bay (Puerto Egas). The landing is one black beach with eroded rock formations in the background. The trail crosses the dry interior, where the remains of salt-mining enterprise can still be seen, and then continues along the coast. Intertidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms, including sea urchins, octopi and starfish. The trail then leads our Galapagos tour to the fur seal grottos, one of the only places in the islands where fur seals can be seen.
San Cristobal Island Galapagos:
The only island which has a sweet water small lake, which is located in "El Junco" Volcano Crater. Its liquid is vital for the Island population and most of the Galapagos tourist's ships. This water comes from the water vapor condensation.The first town of the zone is named "El Progreso" (the Progress), which has its origin for the first population on San Cristobal Island. Around it, they basically seeded coffee, sugar cane, and it is here were the first sugar engine worked. It is an excellent place to understand the contrast between the natural part of the island and their exotic impact.
Punta Pitt:
Punta Pitt, is at the North of the San Cristobal Island, which has a 558 km2 extension and 730 mts of high over the sea level.Punta Pitt is a set of erosioned volcanic coneses, which are barely populated by an endemic and native vegetation of the Islands. It presents a colorful view, due to its different kinds of lavas and the vegation, typic of the xerofitic plants; besides its clean sky and its pacific ocean.This environment proportions protections and cover for species as sea lions, lava small lizards, marine iguanas, frigate birds, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and others in their different niches.
Punta Pitt is the only place in Galapagos where you can see the three kinds of piqueros nesting in the same zone. The beautiful olive-yellow with brilliant crystals beach due the color of its sand to he lava and shells erosion caused by the sea. Dozens of sea lions, frigates, pelicans, garzas and seagulls and garzas can be seen flying over the place... The beach serves as an excellent place to go swimming, especially after the visit to the piqueros colonies, which has duration between 2 ˝ and 3 hours.León Dormido (Kicker Rock), is a San Cristobal satellite.
It is a volcanic ash type lava cone, which has been eroded by the sea action. It this, just a minimum portion is left, formed by two rocks, which have absolutely vertical walls, forming a small channel. Its highest part reaches the 144 meters over the sea level. These impressing rocks are one of the multiple natural monuments that the islands have. It is an excellent place to go around by boat. Tropical birds, frigates, piqueros can be seen flying over the rocks. They have their nest directly on and under the rocks, and the little vegetation, in the frigate case. The sea, almost all the time with crystalline waters- allows you to see down to 15 meters deep vertically, at a glance, and under the sea level! That is another fantasies world, where invertebrate and marine ceciles have colonized the rock walls, giving the beautiful color that fight in beauty with the sea lions and tropical fishes. This is not a landing place, since there is no access by any place.
The ship stays around it between 45 minutes and 1 hour. Puerto Ochoa (Ochoa Port) is a beautiful white calm water beach, secure to go swimming and a good place for snorkeling. It is located at the Northwest part of San Cristobal Island. Its vegetation is interesting and it is a good place to observe the mechanisms used by the plants to survive. Isla Lobos (Sea Lions Island) is a small plane island, a few meters distant from San Cristobal Island, and half an hour from Baquerizo Moreno Port.It has coast vegetation, tolerating to salty water, over which you can appreciate a small common frigate colony. There are sea lions, blue-footed boobies, a beautiful and natural wavebreaker, and some other botanic, ecological and recreating attractions, like swimming or snorkeling. La Lobería is a place not far away from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, to which you get by bus in just 10 minutes. Vegetation next to the road calls people attention for its rare color and variety of never seen before plants. Lobería is a beach that has a big sea lions colony, which use its sand and rocks to rest and reproduce.Generally, there are dozens of them, and at low tide, tide pools and their low deep waters, give the puppies the facility to train fishing, swimming and developing their physical integrity. Marine iguanas that might be seen over the rocks are a variety among the biggest of the Archipelago. This has very characteristics very particular to this Island. The lava small lizards belong to specie that belongs to the Island. These and some other attractions make of San Cristobal an unforgettable Island.
Santa Fe Island Galapagos:
One of the most beautiful coves of all sites in the Galapagos. A turquoise cove protected by a peninsula that extends from the shore by a row of rocks and by a small island that are aligned with it. Formed by an uplift that was a result of tectonic activity.
South Plaza Galapagos:
One of the best spots in the archipelago to see land iguanas and swallow-tailed gulls! There are iguana nests scattered all over the hill. Lying under the cactus trees, and barely moving, the green-yellow iguanas wait for a juicy pad of the prickly pear cactus to fall. The sheer cliffs of the southern shore make for a perfect bird habitat. See the swallow-tailed gulls, yellow-tailed mullets, Audubon shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds and brown pelicans.
Rábida:
Rábida has a beautiful red-sand beach, the waters off of Rábida offer the best snorkeling in the islands. You may even find yourself swimming with penguins.
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More Information |
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Don't expect your cruise in the Galápagos to be a typical pleasure cruise. The boats are used mainly for lodging and transportation purposes. During the day, small dinghies, known as pangas, will transport you to the actual islands. Once you're on land, the excursions often involve long, uphill hikes. The Galápagos are not a place for taking it easy -- expect to partake in strenuous activities.
Trips to the Galápagos venture out to the high seas, and the waters can be rough. Be sure to bring Dramamine or another antiseasickness medication with you. You'll definitely need it. Candied ginger also helps settle small stomach upsets and is an alternative to medication. The big cruise boats don't provide more stability than the small ones. The main tourist information office in the Galápagos is located in Puerto Ayora on Avenida Charles Darwin, close to the corner of Charles Binford. It is open Monday through Friday from 8am to noon and 2 to 5:30pm.
Useful Links About Galapagos:
Galapagos Islands Information
www.galapagos-islands.net
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