|
Ecuador
Cuenca
Guayaquil
Quito
Galapagos
Islands Galapagos
Tours Ecuador
EcoTourism
Galapagos
Islands, Ecuador -
Ecuador's national park lies in isolation about 600 miles off the
mainland. Made famous by Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands are
no less interesting now than they were a several hundred years
ago. Every year, thousands of curious visitors journey to the
remote volcanic islands to explore its pureness. Most wonder how
this wildlife ever reach the Galapagos Islands and how its
maintained its innocence. You could literally walk / sit within
two feet of some these animals.
Galapagos Islands Tours
The Galapagos
sprouted out of the Pacific from a sub oceanic
lava vent on the ocean floor.
This same process created the Hawaiian Islands, and it continues
today in both island groups. There are sixty named islands, the
principals being Fernandina, Isabela, Baltra, James, Santa Cruz
and San Cristobal. Galapagos Islands weather is mild and
comfortable. From June to December its cool, January thru May, is
the dry season..
The Galapagos also offer some of
the world's best scuba diving. Dive boats that tour the
islands can be reserved on the mainland. Devil's Crown, an atoll
near Floreana Island, is a submarine wonderland that shouldn't be
missed. The shallows of this sunken volcano are burgeoning with an
incredible myriad of corals and fish. Giant tortoises hover over
the reef like living balloons, and sharks can sometimes be found
at sandy bottoms.
Much of the same flora and
fauna that inspired Darwin's The Origin of Species still
thrives on the Galapagos today. Appropriately, ninety-seven
percent of the island is a national park.
 The
legendary marine and land iguanas, the giant tortoises, and seal
colonies of the Galapagos are among nature's most fantastic
beings. Visitors will gasp at these stunning animals, all of
which are highly approachable as their isolated evolution has
not conditioned them to fear humans. Iguanas and tortoises bask
in the sun like bored movie stars, feet away from the
photo-snapping Homo Sapiens. Though their indifference may make
the animals seem humorously aloof, their very ignorance makes
them vulnerable. A few bad experiences with humans can alter
their behavior irrevocably and turn them reclusive. Respect
their natural hospitality and keep your hands to yourself.
A visit to the islands is
expensive; a high season flight from Ecuador and a week cruising
the islands will set you back at least a four-figure sum. Boat
trips to the Galápagos can be arranged from Guayaquil, but it's
a hassle and will seldom save you any money.
Flights - Flights from
Guayaquil takes about an hour and a half, and visitors can land
on either Baltra or San Cristobal.
(Galapagos
Islands Travel Tips) Upon reaching the
Galapagos, the only way to tour the islands is to do it the way
Darwin did, by boat. Due to the biologically sensitive nature of
the islands, trips ashore must be taken in the presence of a
licensed guide. Taxes - National Park Tax = $100 USD/person.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
-
Ecuador's national park
lies in isolation about 600 miles
off the mainland. Made famous by
Charles Darwin, the Galapagos
Islands are no less interesting now
than they were a several hundred
years ago. Every year, thousands of
curious visitors journey to the
remote volcanic islands to explore
its pureness. Most wonder how this
wildlife ever reach the Galapagos
Islands and how its maintained its
innocence. You could literally walk
/ sit within two feet of some these
animals.
The
Galapagos sprouted out of the
Pacific from a sub oceanic lava vent
on the ocean floor. This same
process created the Hawaiian
Islands, and it continues today in
both island groups. There are
currently sixty named islands, the
principals being Fernandina, Isabela,
Baltra, James, Santa Cruz and San
Cristobal. The climate in the
islands is generally mild and
comfortable. From June to December
its cool, January allows the warmer
equatorial current to move in,
bringing with it a dry season that
endures through May.
EcoTourism Costa Rica Ecuador Mexico
Peru Puerto
Rico Dominican Republic
|
