OUR DESTINATIONS
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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- South America
- Ecuador
- Galapagos Islands
- Charles Darwin Research Station
Charles Darwin Research Station
Near Puerto Ayora is the Charles Darwin Research Station, that
contains a National Park information centre and a museum. It is
also has a protected baby tortoise nursery that aims to boost the
endangered species of the Galapagos tortoise, whose enormous
saddle-shaped shell gave the islands their name (the Spanish word
'galápago' means 'saddle'). There is a walk-in enclosure where
visitors can meet the giant tortoises face to face. The station is
also home to 150-year old Lonesome George, the world's only
surviving Pinta tortoise. Until he was discovered in 1971 the race
was considered extinct. Hunting in the 18th century and the
introduction of goats in the 1950s, which destroyed the vegetation,
had wiped them out.
Information & Facts
Address
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.