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Highlights of The
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
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The Galapagos Islands, smack dab on the equator, are 970 kilometres off of the west coast of Ecuador. The islands were formed, it is estimated, three to five million years ago. They rose from volcanic cones from the ocean floor.
Over the centuries, seeds, carried on the wind and by birds, took root on several of the more inhabitable islands. A few of the islands from a tourist vantage points look to still be barren of any vegetation Sea birds following their normal migration path were blown off course and made the islands their home. Reptiles that could go without food or water for long periods of time floated ashore on drift wood or other forms of vegetation.
The most sturdy of these plants and animals survived and over the centuries evolved into species that are found nowhere else.
Your trip to the Galapagos Islands starts in Quito. Your flight is a regularly scheduled flight that may make a short stop for refueling and picking up and dropping of passengers. Upon arrival on the island of Santa Cruz, you are picked up and taken by bus across the island to the port town of Puerto Ayora.
| As you are taken by "Panga" (small boat) to your home for the next week to ten days, depending upon your tour itinerary, you will pass several other tour boats in the harbor. During your time in the Galapagos, you will visit several islands observing wildlife beyond imagination living in unspoiled and untouched harmony. Depending on your itinerary your tour may visit some or all of the following islands. | Picture |
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Santa Cruz
island - The most populated island within the archipelago with Puerto
Ayora being its main town. After being taken to your boat, getting
your room, hopefully above deck, unpacking and getting your oriented to
ship board life, you will be taken back to Puerto Ayora for a visit
to the world renowned Charles Darwin Research Station in search of George,
reportedly the world's largest tortuous. The Station is a short ten
minute walk from the centre of town. On your wa. out to the Station,
your guide will orient you to some basic rules about the galapagos
islands.
1. Do not touch the animals
that you see. During you time in the Galapagos, you will be next to
animals that do not fear humans. As you enter the George Darwin Station, you may see Iguana sunning themselves on the path. A good place to start taking pictures. If you are unable to find George, there are lots of tortuous to see. |
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Walking the trails of the George Darwin Research Station will eventually bring you to the the Exhibition Centre displaying photos of recent volcanic eruptions, charts outlining geological formations and and drawings of the evolutionary development endemic species. There is even a nursery that is home to young tortuous. Yong tortuous remain in the care of the nursery for about three years until the shell hardens enough to resist attacks from feral dogs.
| Returning to your boat in late afternoon allows you some further time to get settled, get a refreshing beverage and climb into one of the hammocks that sway in the gentle breeze. As you depart Puerto Ayora on what will be an ecological adventure, you may notice a few additional passengers that come along for a short ride as well as a magnificent sunset |
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After enjoying dinner and getting to
know your travel companions, the tour guide will hold a short meeting to outline
the next days itinerary and will outline whether the islands to be visited offer
a wet or dry landing islands. After the orientation, you can either remain
in the lounge area or move out on deck to enjoy the quiet of the evening and
watch the stars appear over head. This is of course unless you are heading
to your next days island destination.
While this trip offers adventures for those wishing to explore the islands and snorkel the waters around the islands, this trip also offers the romance of cruising between the islands. Honeymoons and the like I am sure often occur on these small cruises. The feelings that enveloped me as we traveled throughout the islands go well beyond those often found in settings of this sort. |
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Espanola Island (also called Hood Island) - The morning sunrise are almost as spectacular as the sunsets. As you make your way through the den of sea lions, Watch your step as the rocks and pathway, if wet, will be slippery Punta Suarez a short walk from your landing area, on the western side of the island, offers a great view of the crashing waves. Huge waves break on jagged cliffs and large bird colonies thickly populate the interior of the island. There is a distinct feeling of desolate wilderness as you walk the cliffs. If you have ever been to Hawaii and seen the blow holes, you will want to sit and watch the surf being forced through natural rock formation sending sea water 50 to 70 feet in the air. |
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Rabida
Island (also called Jervis Island) - As you travel throughout the
Galapagos Islands, you will often cross paths with other tour boats.
Many times when you arrive at an Island, you are alone, but at some point
in the night, another will anchor near by.
On this day, you may be awoken by the sound of a barking male sea lion calling for a mate to come join him in the water. This usually happens in the pre-dawn light. As you are awake, it is worth climbing out of bed to watch to see if his call is answered and watch the sun rise. Like most days, after an early breakfast, you climb aboard the Panga and head to shore for a wet landing. As you walk onto the red sandy beach you are greeted by families of sea lions. Hiking one of the trails to the top of the island, you get a splendid post card view of the harbour and the few tour boats with their guests aboard waiting to come ashore. Another of the trails passes by flamingo lagoon. On this day we did not see any. Circling the lagoon you will notice the revered palo santa trees When burned, the branches of this tree give off a pleasing aroma and ward off mosquitoes. Back on the beach among the low-lying bushes, nest the pre-historic looking pelicans. This area is probably one of the best for close up viewing of these nesting birds. It is well worth a sit to watch parent pelicans return with gullets full of fish for squawking youngsters. If time permits, at the other end of the beach there is some pretty good snorkeling. Watch out for sea lions and swooping pelicans. |
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For more information on how you can enjoy the wonders of the Galapagos Islands and other exciting adventures in South America or other parts of the world, Contact Us at All Points Travel
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