Galapagos Travel - Ecuador Travel
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.
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Tags: Galapagos
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
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 [...]
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).
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
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
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
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 cool/dry season which lasts
from July to [...]
Tags: Galapagos
Even by Galápagos standards, Fernandina
is especially unique. It’s home to thousands
of lethargic marine iguanas and for the volcanically
minded it’s the island you’ll most
likely witness an eruption; the most recent
occurred in May 2005. At 642 sq km, Fernandina
is the third-largest island and the
westernmost and youngest of the main islands.
Unlike other parts of the Galápagos,
no introduced species [...]
Tags: Galapagos, The Islands
There are around 12 main islands and 12 minor islands. Five of the islands are inhabited.
About half the residents live in Puerto Ayora, on Isla Santa Cruz in the middle of the archipelago, which is also the most important island from the traveler’s point of view. North of Santa Cruz, separated by a narrow strait, is Isla Baltra, which is home to [...]
Tags: Galapagos, General Information