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- Destinations
- South America
- Ecuador
- Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands
The volcanic Galapagos Archipelago is made up of 13 major
islands and six smaller ones lying about 600 miles (970km) from the
mainland and located on the equator. It is the second largest
marine reserve in the world, spread over 19,500 square miles
(50,000 sq km), and was made a National Park in 1959. Positioned
between three ocean currents, the climate is unique, and as a
result, roughly 50 percent of the species are unique to the
islands. Famous for its exceptional and fearless wildlife, it has
become a paradise for nature enthusiasts and photographers.
The Galapagos Islands are a popular vacation destination, and
the Ecuadorian government maintains strict control over tourist
access in an effort to preserve the local ecosystem. All visitors
must be accompanied by a certified tour guide, and there are
additional restrictions regarding the size of tour groups and level
of activity in a given area, so it's best to make bookings ahead of
time.
Visitors to the archipelago will be guided around various
islands, each one with different species of fauna and flora. It is
possible to pass within inches of mating iguanas, walk between
nesting frigate birds, stand beside blue-footed boobies feeding
their chicks, gawk at fur seals, and watch thousands of brightly
coloured Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttling across the black volcanic
rocks. In the sea, visitors can swim, snorkel and dive with sharks
and turtles, and come mask to face with sea lions and penguins.
Also to be seen are albatrosses, lava lizards, flamingos, giant
tortoises, masked boobies and Darwin finches.
Although the islands are volcanic and largely bare of
vegetation, they have different geological features that make them
dramatic and strangely beautiful. These include a 30-foot (10m)
high cactus forest, exquisitely twisted lava flows, spatter cones
and lava tunnels, bizarre rock formations, and red, black or white
sand beaches.
The islands first became famous with the scientific voyage of
the 'Beagle' by Charles Darwin during the 19th Century, where he
was inspired to formulate his theory of evolution by natural
selection. Today the archipelago draws an average of 65,000
visitors a year who want to experience for themselves the
extraordinary wildlife of these otherworldly islands.
Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island, is the most developed town
on the archipelago, and is the centre of the Galapagos tourism
industry. Most visitors stay in this friendly little town while
arranging a boat tour to the rest of the islands or anchor in the
harbour during their cruise.
Information & Facts
Climate
The Galapagos Islands are located on the equator, but the
Humboldt Current brings cold water to the islands and frequent
drizzles occur throughout most of the year. The season between June
and November is known as the 'Garua' when average temperatures
reach 71.6°F (22°C) and a steady cold wind blows from South and
Southeast bringing drizzles and dense fog that last most of the
day. The warm season runs from December to May with average
temperatures reaching 77°F (25°C), very little wind and occasional
sporadic showers.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but Quechua is the main
language spoken among the indigenous people.
Money
The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency in Ecuador. In 2000
the sucre was replaced by the dollar as the legal currency, but
despite dollarization, the sucre will likely persist in rural areas
for a while longer. It is recommended that travellers bring both US
dollar notes and travellers cheques as other foreign currencies are
difficult to exchange outside of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. Small
denominations in good condition are the easiest to exchange outside
of the main cities. In the main centres most currencies can be
exchanged at banks and exchange houses (
casas de cambio) at variable commission rates. ATMs are
available in the cities, and major credit cards are accepted in
tourist areas and large hotels although a commission of 6-8% is
often charged.