Posted September 22nd, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
There really isn’t a bad time to visit, however there are several factors to keep in
mind in determining when to go. The islands have two distinct seasons: the warm/ wet season which lasts from January to June, when there can be strong but short periods of rain but it’s generally sunny and warm; and the [...]
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
The $100 Galápagos national park fee must be paid in cash at one of the airports after you arrive or can be paid in advance through a prebooked tour. You will not be allowed to leave the airport until you pay. Make sure you have your passport available when you pay your fees and hang onto your ticket until you leave.
[...]
Tags: Galapagos
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
Most people get around the islands by organized boat tours, but it’s entirely possible to visit some of the islands independently.
Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Santa María (Floreana) and Isabela all have accommodations and are reachable by interisland boat rides or flights (which are pricey). Keep in mind however that you’ll only scratch the surface of the archipelago’s natural wonders traveling independently.
AIR
The [...]
Tags: Galapagos Tours
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
AIR
Flights from the mainland arrive at two airports:
Isla Baltra just north of Santa Cruz
and Isla San Cristóbal. There are almost
an equal number of flights to Baltra and
San Cristóbal. Every two or three years the
Baltra airport undergoes repairs and all
flights are diverted to San Cristóbal for up
to several months.
Two major airlines flying to the Galápagos
Islands are [...]
Tags: Galapagos Tours
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
There are various solutions to the problems
facing the Galápagos Islands. One extreme
view is to prohibit all colonization and tourism
– an option that appeals to few. Many
colonists act responsibly and actively oppose
the disruptive and dangerous tactics of the
protesting fishermen. The tourist industry
is important for Ecuador’s economy, and the
best solution is a combination of environmental
education for both [...]
Tags: Galapagos
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
the Galápagos from somewhere else after
journeys of several hundred to thousands of
kilometers on fortuitous wind, air and sea
currents, mostly from South America and the
Caribbean. Of course some flora and fauna
arrived later more unnaturally, brought by
settlers and others visiting the islands. There
are no large terrestrial mammals.
As early as 1934, the Ecuadorian government
set aside some of the [...]
Tags: Ecology, Galapagos
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
The oldest of the islands visible today were
formed roughly four to five million years
ago by underwater volcanoes erupting and
rising above the ocean’s surface (the islands
were never connected to the mainland).
Tags: Ecology, Galapagos
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
The Galápagos are an isolated group of volcanic
islands that lie in the Pacific Ocean
on the equator about 90 degrees west of
Greenwich. The nearest mainland is Ecuador
almost 1100km to the northeast. The
land mass of the archipelago covers 7882
sq km, of which well over half consists of
Isla Isabela, the largest island within the
archipelago and the 12th-largest in [...]
Tags: Galapagos
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
The Galápagos Archipelago was discovered
by accident in 1535, when Tomás de Berlanga,
the first Bishop of Panama, drifted off
course while sailing from Panama to Peru.
The bishop reported his discovery to King
Charles V of Spain and included in his report
a description of the giant Galápagos tortoises
from which the islands received their name,
and an amusing note about the [...]
Tags: Galapagos
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea Lion
Ear plugs – in case your cabin is too close to the engine
Motion sickness pills – nighttime crossings can feel like a roller coaster ride during certain times of the year
Wet suit – all the higher-end boats provide these but they might not always fit so snug
Snorkeling gear – again, all the higherend boats provide this and it’s of generally good quality; [...]
Tags: Add new tag, Galapagos