Previous Version (51)
|
Latest Version (62)
|
| 3 | | 3 | |
| 4 | ==Introduction== | 4 | ==Introduction== |
| 5 | [photo|176312] | 5 | [photo|176312] |
| | 6 | The [b]Galapagos Islands[/b] are an archipelago of
volcanic islands around the equator, located about
1,000 kilometres west of Ecuador in the [[Pacific
Ocean]] and were made famous by Charles Darwin. It
is a heaven for people who wish to be witness of
some of the most unusual animals in the world, all
to be viewed from up close. It doesn't come cheap
and a tour of 5 days including the return flight
from mainland Ecuador will set you back at least a
US$ 1,000, but probably more when you want to
explore more islands and spend some decent amount
of time at this magnificent place. |
| 6 | | 7 | |
| 7 | The [b]Galapagos Islands[/b] are an archipelago of
volcanic islands around the equator, located about
1,000 kilometers west of Ecuador in the Pacific
Ocean and were made famous by Charles Darwin. It
is a heaven for people who wish to be witness of
some of the most unusual animals in the world, all
to be viewed from up close. It doesn't come cheap
and a tour of 5 days including the return flight
from mainland Ecuador will set you back at least a
1,000 dollars, but probably more when you want to
explore more islands and spend some decent amount
of time at this magnificent place. | 8 | The environment is fragile on the other hand and
recently, the government of [[Ecuador]] has
announced that less visitors are allowed on the
islands at one time and a maximum number is
allowed in one year. Also prices for the entry to
the National Park are tripled which only adds
extra costs. Still, if visited in the right way,
it makes for an unforgettable trip! |
| 8 | | 9 | |
| 9 | The environment is fragile on the other hand and
recently, the government of Ecuador has announced
that less visitors are allowed on the islands at
one time and a maximum number is allowed in one
year. Also prices for the entry to the National
Park are tripled which only adds extra costs.
Still, if visited in the right way, it makes for
an unforgettable trip! | | |
| 10 | | | |
| 11 | Hopefully this stops some of the more rampant
destructions and corruption that has plagued the
Galapagos in the past. As recently as the 1990s
the local mafia were trying smuggle animals out of
the Galapagos Islands for a profit. Also many
Ecuadorians view the islands as their frontier.
Therefore many people move to the islands in order
to find their fortunes in many different
industries some very destructive to the fragile
environment of the Galapagos Islands. Over fishing
in recent years has been blamed for the reduction
in the number of large whale sightings while on
cruises. | 10 | Hopefully this stops some of the more rampant
destructions and corruption that has plagued the
Galapagos in the past. As recently as the 1990s
the local mafia were trying smuggle animals out of
the Galapagos Islands for a profit. Also many
Ecuadorians view the islands as their frontier.
Therefore many people move to the islands in order
to find their fortunes in many different
industries some very destructive to the fragile
environment of the Galapagos Islands. Over fishing
in recent years has been blamed for the reduction
in the number of large whale sightings while on
cruises. |
| 12 | | 11 | |
| 13 | | 12 | |
| 14 | ==Geography== | 13 | ==Geography== |
| 15 | [Photo|145935] | 14 | [Photo|145935] |
| 16 | The islands are located on the equator, in the
Pacific Ocean and apart from [[Ecuador]] the
closest islands are 500 kilometers north (Cocos
Islands) or almost 2,000 kilometers south
([[Easter Island]]). As the Galapagos islands are
on the equator, they are located in both the
northern and southern hemisphere and with the
equator line located exactly on the island of Isla
Isabela. From north to south the islands are
spread out about 220 kilometres. A nice affect of
being located on the equator and at sea level is
that a traveller can see every constellation year
round while visiting the Galapagos Islands. | 15 | The islands are located on the equator, in the
Pacific Ocean and apart from [[Ecuador]] the
closest islands are 500 kilometres north (Cocos
Islands) or almost 2,000 kilometres south
([[Easter Island]]). As the Galapagos islands are
on the equator, they are located in both the
northern and southern hemisphere and with the
equator line located exactly on the island of Isla
Isabela. From north to south the islands are
spread out about 220 kilometres. A nice affect of
being located on the equator and at sea level is
that a traveller can see every constellation year
round while visiting the Galapagos Islands. |
| 17 | | 16 | |
| 18 | The Galapagos Islands include 7880 square
kilometers of land and 45,000 square kilometers of
water. The largest of the islands is Isabela
Island with about 4588 square kilometers, thus
making up half of the total land area. The highest
point is located on Isabela as well and Volcan
Wolf has an altitude of 1,707 meters above sea
level. | 17 | The Galapagos Islands include 7,880 square
kilometres of land and 45,000 square kilometres of
water. The largest of the islands is Isabela
Island with about 4588 square kilometres, thus
making up half of the total land area. The highest
point is located on Isabela as well and Volcan
Wolf has an altitude of 1,707 metres above sea
level. |
| 19 | | 18 | |
| 20 | The Galapagos Archipelago consists of 16 main
islands, 6 smaller islands, and 10 rocks and
islets. The islands are located in a volcanic
sensitive area and the oldest island is thought to
have been formed between 5 and 10 million years
ago. The most recent eruption was just back in
2007 and, as a consequence, younger islands like
Isabela and Fernandina are still being formed and
thus changed as we speak. | 19 | The Galapagos Archipelago consists of 16 main
islands, 6 smaller islands, and 10 rocks and
islets. The islands are located in a volcanic
sensitive area and the oldest island is thought to
have been formed between 5 and 10 million years
ago. The most recent eruption was just back in
2007 and, as a consequence, younger islands like
Isabela and Fernandina are still being formed and
thus changed as we speak. |
| 21 | | 20 | |
| … | | … | |
| 49 | When visiting the islands you will likely take a
boat trip between a couple or several of the
islands. Every islands has its own specific
environment and for specific species you have to
visit as many islands as possible. All of the
islands in the park officially open at sunrise and
a great activity is to visit right when they open.
Your group will be the only travellers on the
islands and the animals will just be waking up.
Also the soft light will help when taking great
pictures. For more information on the wildlife on
the Galapagos Islands please read the article:
[[Wildlife In The Galapagos]]. | 48 | When visiting the islands you will likely take a
boat trip between a couple or several of the
islands. Every islands has its own specific
environment and for specific species you have to
visit as many islands as possible. All of the
islands in the park officially open at sunrise and
a great activity is to visit right when they open.
Your group will be the only travellers on the
islands and the animals will just be waking up.
Also the soft light will help when taking great
pictures. For more information on the wildlife on
the Galapagos Islands please read the article:
[[Wildlife In The Galapagos]]. |
| 50 | | 49 | |
| 51 | * [[http://www.darwinfoundation.org/|Charles
Darwin Research Center]] is run by the Charles
Darwin Foundation on Santa Cruz Island in the
Galapagos Islands. This is an excellent place to
visit to learn more about the wildlife of the
Galapagos including the famous [b]Lonesome
George[/b], who is the last of his species. Most
multi day tours include a half day at the center. | 50 | * [[http://www.darwinfoundation.org/|Charles
Darwin Research Center]] is run by the Charles
Darwin Foundation on Santa Cruz Island in the
Galapagos Islands. This is an excellent place to
visit to learn more about the wildlife of the
Galapagos including the famous [b]Lonesome
George[/b], who is the last of his species. Most
multi day tours include a half day at the center. |
| 52 | | | |
| 53 | * [[Galapagos Scuba Diving]] is considered to be
some of the best diving in the world. It is one of
the few places in the world that you can dive with
Sea Lions, Giant Turtles, Hammerhead Sharks,
Penguins and Sea Horses all in one dive! | 51 | * [[Galapagos Scuba Diving]] is considered to be
some of the best diving in the world. It is one of
the few places in the world that you can dive with
Sea Lions, Giant Turtles, Hammerhead Sharks,
Penguins and Sea Horses all in one dive! |
| | 52 | * [b]Vivencial Fishing[/b] is a relatively new
activity for vistors to the Galapagos Islands.
While sport fishing, [i]per se[/i], is prohibited,
the Galapagos National Park has issued a limited
number of licences to local fishermen to offer
[i]Pesca Artesanal Vivencial[/i] or [i]Artisanal
Vivencial Fishing[/i]. On a properly licenced
Vivencial Fishing boat, you can fish offshore for
big-game like marlin or inshore for tuna, wahoo,
grouper and other permitted species. [u]All[/u]
marlin must be released but a limited amount of
other fish can be kept for personal consumption.
You may not fish for sharks or rays. If you want
to fish in the Galapagos be aware that both the
fisherman and his boat require the special
licence.
[[http://www.galapagospark.org/nophprg.php?page=re
serva_marina_manejo_pesquero_pesca_vivencial&s
et_lang=en|The Galapagos National Park]] publishes
a list of licenced boats and owners. |
| | 53 | * [b]Hiking[/b] is often included as part of
organized cruises or tours of the highlands.
Although you will often see fewer animals during
these tours, you will often gain a greater
understanding of the difference in terrain and
vegetation as well as the formation of the
islands. Hiking is restricted in all National Park
land; however, several sights, like the Wall of
Tears on Isabela and Cerro Tijeras on San
Cristobal can be hiked independently. The rules
are that a guide must accompany all groups of more
than eight people in the National Park. |
| | 54 | * [b]Biking[/b] provides quicker access to far
sites from the ports. Bike rentals are available
on Isabela, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz for
around $15 per day. |
| | 55 | * [b]Kayaking[/b] allows you to navigate more of
the water without a boat. Kayaks can be rented at
Tortuga Bay in Santa Cruz and the port at San
Cristobal to navigate the nearby beaches. Fish and
sea turtles can often be seen while kayaking;
however, conditions should be checked before
renting. |
| 54 | | 56 | |
| 55 | | 57 | |
| 56 | ==Events and Festivals== | 58 | ==Events and Festivals== |
| | 59 | * [b]January[/b] - The green sea turtle arrives to
lay their eggs and land iguanas begin reproducing
on Isabela. |
| | 60 | * [b]February[/b] - Flamingos start nesting on
Floreana, Bahamas pintails begin their breeding
season and nesting season of the Galapagos dove
reaches its peak. |
| | 61 | * [b]March[/b] - Marine iguanas nest in Fernandina
and on the 21st, the summer equinox signals the
arrival of the waved albatross to Española. |
| | 62 | * [b]April[/b] - Hatching season begins for the
green sea turtle and the land iguana. |
| | 63 | * [b]May[/b] - The blue footed boobies begin their
courtship and waved albatrosses start to lay their
eggs on Española. |
| | 64 | * [b]June[/b] - June in the Galapagos marks the
beginning of the cold garúa season (dry winds that
hit the slopes of the Andes creating a low-level
cloud cover). Giant tortoises begin nesting. |
| | 65 | * [b]July[/b] - Whales are more likely to be
spotted off the Western coast of Isabela and lava
lizards begin their mating ritual which runs
through November. |
| | 66 | * [b]August[/b] - The Galapagos hawks court on
Española and Santiago, while mask boobies and
swallow tail gulls nest on Genovesa. |
| | 67 | * [b]September[/b] - September is the peak of cold
season which sees more active penguins, sea lions
and marine birds throughout the beaches of the
Galapagos. |
| | 68 | * [b]October[/b] - The Galapagos fur seals begin
their mating period and giant tortoises lay eggs. |
| | 69 | * [b]November[/b] - Sea lion pups are born and
brown noddies begin breeding. |
| | 70 | * [b]December[/b] - The rainy season begins,
causing the whole area to be bathed in greenery.
Green sea turtles begin mating and giant tortoise
eggs start hatching. |
| 57 | | 71 | |
| 58 | | 72 | |
| 59 | ==Weather== | 73 | ==Weather== |
| … | | … | |
| 67 | ==Getting There== | 81 | ==Getting There== |
| 68 | | 82 | |
| 69 | ===By Plane=== | 83 | ===By Plane=== |
| 70 | Regular flights connect the islands with both
[[Quito]] and [[Guayaquil]] but flights need to be
booked well in advance because of its popularity.
There are two airports servicing passengers
arriving on the Galapagos Islands: one on Baltra
and the other on San Cristobal. Pay attention when
checking in for your flight: flights to Baltra are
often described simply as "Galapagos" while
flights to San Cristobal say, specifically: "San
Cristobal". | 84 | Regular flights connect the islands with both
[[Quito]] and [[Guayaquil]] but flights need to be
booked well in advance because of its popularity.
There are two airports servicing passengers
arriving on the Galapagos Islands: one on Baltra
and the other on San Cristobal. Pay attention when
checking in for your flight: flights to Baltra are
often described simply as "Galapagos" while
flights to San Cristobal say, specifically "San
Cristobal". |
| 71 | | 85 | |
| 72 | ===By Train=== | | |
| 73 | There are no trains services to the Galapagos
Islands. | | |
| 74 | | | |
| 75 | ===By Car=== | | |
| 76 | There are no bridges or roads to the islands. | | |
| 77 | | | |
| 78 | ===By Bus=== | | |
| 79 | | | |
| 80 | ===By Boat=== | 86 | ===By Boat=== |
| 81 | There are cargo ships departing from from
[[Guayaquil]] to the Galapagos Islands. The
journey takes 3 to 4 days and booking passage
aboard these boats is not common. These boats are
only permitted to provide passage to residents of
the Galapagos Islands - they are not allowed to
take tourists on board. | 87 | There are cargo ships departing from from
[[Guayaquil]] to the Galapagos Islands. The
journey takes 3 to 4 days and booking passage
aboard these boats is not common. These boats are
only permitted to provide passage to residents of
the Galapagos Islands - they are not allowed to
take tourists on board. |
| 82 | | 88 | |
| 83 | Many people choose to arrive Galapagos aboard
their own private boat. Either in transit or to
tour the islands. Boats transiting the island are
permitted to stay in one of the four ports
(Baltra, Puerto Ayora, Puerto Baquerizo, Villamil
or Floreana for a maximum of 21 days). They are
not permitted to travel to other parts of the
islands under this permit. | 89 | Many people choose to arrive Galapagos aboard
their own private boat. Either in transit or to
tour the islands. Boats transiting the island are
permitted to stay in one of the four ports
(Baltra, Puerto Ayora, Puerto Baquerizo, Villamil
or Floreana for a maximum of 21 days). They are
not permitted to travel to other parts of the
islands under this permit. |
| 84 | | 90 | |
| 85 | Boats which wish to visit more than one island or
to cruise the islands on board their own vessel
may do so under special permission. These permits
need to be obtained in advanced through a local
licensed Galapagos Yacht Agency. The owner of the
boat needs to be on board while in the Galapagos
Islands and the boat can not be operating for
commercial purposes. The special permits are
expensive and many smaller boats prefer to arrive
"in transit" then tour the islands aboard one of
the regular cruises. | 91 | Boats which wish to visit more than one island or
to cruise the islands on board their own vessel
may do so under special permission. These permits
need to be obtained in advanced through a local
licensed Galapagos Yacht Agency. The owner of the
boat needs to be on board while in the Galapagos
Islands and the boat can not be operating for
commercial purposes. The special permits are
expensive and many smaller boats prefer to arrive
"in transit" then tour the islands aboard one of
the regular cruises. |
| 86 | | 92 | |
| 87 | | 93 | |
| 88 | ==Getting Around== | 94 | ==Getting Around== |
| … | | … | |
| 99 | There is a company (Emetebe) which operates two
twin-prop light aircraft (6 or 8 seats) on a
regular daily schedule between Baltra, San
Cristobal and Isabela. | 105 | There is a company (Emetebe) which operates two
twin-prop light aircraft (6 or 8 seats) on a
regular daily schedule between Baltra, San
Cristobal and Isabela. |
| 100 | | 106 | |
| 101 | ===By Car and Bus=== | 107 | ===By Car and Bus=== |
| 102 | Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and, to a lesser extent
Isabela, all have abundant taxis that will take
you anywhere in town for a dollar. Travel outside
town, such as to the highlands will be a few
dollars more. There are daily buses to the airport
on Baltra. San Cristobal's airport is on the edge
of town and is a 5 minute taxi-ride. You can rent
bicycles on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal
(Isabela?) and you can ride considerable distances
before finding yourself at the limits of the
National Park, beyond which you will have to be
accompanied by a Park guide. | 108 | Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and, to a lesser extent
Isabela, all have abundant taxis that will take
you anywhere in town for a dollar. Travel outside
town, such as to the highlands will be a few
dollars more. There are daily buses to the airport
on Baltra. San Cristobal's airport is on the edge
of town and is a 5-minute taxi ride. You can rent
bicycles on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal and you
can ride considerable distances before finding
yourself at the limits of the National Park,
beyond which you will have to be accompanied by a
Park guide. |
| 103 | | 109 | |
| 104 | ===By Boat=== | 110 | ===By Boat=== |
| | 111 | Seeing the sites and wildlife of the Galapagos is
best done by boat. Most people book their place
well in advance (as the boats are usually full
during the high season). Booking a boat tour with
a company in your home country is usually the most
convenient, but is often considerably more
expensive. |
| | 112 | |
| | 113 | There are a VAST number of companies that can book
accommodation on a Galapagos tour either in Puerto
Ayora or from Guayaquil or Quito. While it is
possible to get a last-minute deal, be aware that
many budget tours may spend extra time in Puerto
Ayora, might not have the best boats, and may only
visit the inner islands. Last minute 4-day cruises
can be organized in Puerto Ayora for around
$400–1800. |
| | 114 | |
| | 115 | When looking for a tour consider the following: |
| | 116 | * [b]Number of passengers[/b] - The national park
restricts the size of the boats allowed to cruise
the islands, with some islands such as Genovesa
being limited to boats with no more than forty
passengers. Though the maximum size boat permitted
to cruise the islands is 100 passengers, as you
might imagine 100 people showing up on a beach all
at the same time can be overwhelming to the local
wildlife. All passengers will be divided up into a
maximum group size of 16 passengers per naturalist
guide. Therefore it is generally best to travel on
a boat with fewer passengers (between 16 and 32
passengers is ideal). |
| | 117 | * [b]Itinerary[/b] - The National Park sets all of
the cruise itineraries. Each itinerary is designed
to have a mixture of habitats and show case the
diversity of the islands by combining the Southern
Espanola and Floreana, Central, Western
Fernandina, Isabela or Northern Genovesa Islands.
Most boats will visit 2 or 3 of these areas during
a week. |
| | 118 | * [b]Availability[/b] - Most of the best cruises
are booked up months in advance, so best to book
early. |
| | 119 | * [b]Level of activity[/b] - Visits to the islands
are only permitted during the twelve hours of
daylight 6:00am to 6:00pm. Typically a cruise will
have two excursions each day, a morning and an
afternoon that will be a combination of shore and
water excursions. Walks are generally at a slow
pace offering plenty of time for interpretation
and photos. The landings may be slippery and some
trails can be rocky, which makes them difficult
for people with mobility or balance problems, but
in general the walks are easy. Water excursions
may include snorkeling, kayaking, panga rides
(rides in local dinghies) as well as rides in a
glass-bottom boat, depending on your cruise. Life
under the water is more diverse than that on shore
and snorkeling with sea lions is frequently the
highlight of the trip for many visitors. |
| | 120 | * [b]Additional costs[/b] - Many tours do not
include the $100 park entry fee or the cost of a
flight from the mainland to the islands (about
$400 from Quito) as well as a $20 INGALA Tourist
Control Card. Additionally less-expensive boats
will charge for beverages, use of snorkel
equipment, wetsuits and kayaks. |
| | 121 | * [b]Time spent in the islands[/b] - The cruise
length includes the day you arrive and the day you
depart the Galapagos. Flights typically arrive the
islands around noon time or in the early afternoon
and leave the islands about the same time. On your
first day you will typically have one excursion,
and on the day you leave you may or may not have
an excursion. In addition, all eight-day cruises
are required to visit the town of Puerto Ayora and
the Charles Darwin Research. Many itineraries will
combine this day with a visit to see the tortoises
in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz.
Shorter cruises will take advantage of the close
proximity of the Baltra airport to Puerto Ayora
and let passengers who boarded the cruise in San
Cristobal leave the cruise in Santa Cruz or vice
versa. |
| | 122 | * [b]Type of boat[/b] - Quality of boats varies
widely. Less-expensive tours use boats that may
not be capable of traveling as quickly between
islands, be as comfortable, or be as
well-maintained. |
| | 123 | |
| | 124 | Note that while the majority of the islands will
be off-limits without a guide, it is possible to
travel via speed boat between the towns on San
Cristóbal, Santa Cruz and Isla Isabela; trips to
Floreana can also be arranged. Speed boats cost
$30 one-way, or $50 both ways with an open return
date. Each of these islands offers the possibility
of joining organized local daytrips or of
traveling on your own while within the town
limits. |
| | 125 | |
| | 126 | From Santa Cruz it is possible to book day trips
to the uninhabited islands of North Seymour, South
Plazas, Santa Fe and Bartolome. Advance
reservations are normally required; however, on
occasion you can find space due to a last-minute
cancellation the night before. |
| 105 | There are many boat tours between the islands, but
both prices and comfort vary a lot so shop around.
You can go on a small sailing yacht and on big
luxurious cruise ships, it all depends on what you
like. This is a trip that is worth planning in
advance due to cost. But a traveller can arrange a
trip on short notice but it best to do that on the
mainland. Remember if travelling alone to ask if
your cabin will have a forced roommate and to
require that the forced roommate be of the same
gender as you. Note that during the rougher
December to April period, [[seasickness]] is more
prevalent when you are on the smaller ships. | | |
| 106 | | 127 | |
| 107 | | 128 | |
| 108 | ==Eat== | 129 | ==Eat== |
| | 130 | The Galapagos Islands were once a favoured source
of giant tortoises to feed the crews of passing
ships, particularly whalers, and the tortoise
population was decimated even to the extent that
some species are now extinct. |
| | 131 | |
| | 132 | In the past, some species, particularly
sea-cucumber and lobster, were seriously
over-fished by the local population and are now
restricted to a few months in the year. There are
no quotas on other species and the local fishermen
are not sufficiently numerous or well equipped to
have much impact on fish stocks. The biggest
problem now is that commercial boats from the
[[Ecuador]] mainland and other countries fish the
perimeter of the Marine Reserve and frequently
make illegal incursions into the Reserve. The use
of long-lines and shark-finning are both illegal
but enforcement is problematic. |
| 109 | In the past the Galapagos Islands were famous for
sea food and in the 19th century it was famous for
eating the giant tortoises. Today your not suppose
to eat either. The giant tortoises almost went
extinct because of ships stopping by the Galapagos
Islands to pick them out and load them up in the
bottoms of their ships. This gave the crew of the
ships fresh meat for months. | | |
| 110 | | 133 | |
| 111 | More recently tourists demanding fresh sea food
has lead to extensive over fishing near the
Galapagos Islands. This has had a massive impact
on animal populations because most of the birds,
seals, dolphins, sharks and whales depend on the
fish for their survival. The government in
[[Quito]] outlawed fishing in the Galapagos
Islands but [[Quito]] is very far away making the
laws useless. Travellers are asked not to eat
fresh seafood while in the Galapagos Islands in
order to protect the animals. | 134 | There is no restriction on tourists eating seafood
(in season of course) and the quantities involved
have no material impact on stocks. |
| 112 | | 135 | |
| 113 | | 136 | |
| 114 | ==Drink== | 137 | ==Drink== |
| 115 | Party time Galapagos! There are a few bars near
the port in [b]Puerto Ayora[/b], some of which can
be a little fun. Remember to bring booze with you
on the boats because the private bars on the tours
can get very expensive. Once you leave [b]Puerto
Ayora[/b] there is no place to buy anything, other
then the boat store. In the same breathe most boat
trips have early morning hikes which are no fun
with a hang over. | 138 | There are a few bars near the port in [b]Puerto
Ayora[/b], some of which can be a little fun.
Remember to bring booze with you on the boats
because the private bars on the tours can get very
expensive. Once you leave [b]Puerto Ayora[/b]
there is no place to buy anything, other then the
boat store. In the same breathe most boat trips
have early morning hikes which are no fun with a
hang over. |
| 116 | | 139 | |
| 117 | | 140 | |
| 118 | ==Sleep== | 141 | ==Sleep== |
| | 142 | Hotels and hostels are available on each of these
islands from $10–$500+, while hotels along the
water are generally full especially in Santa Cruz.
During peak season (Christmas & Easter weeks)
as well as during special events, all hotels are
frequently sold out well in advance. However, if
you are traveling at other times of the year, you
may be able to find availability by just showing
up. |
| 119 | | 143 | |
| | 144 | There are a few hotels in [b]Puerto Ayora[/b].
Although the vast majority of people sleep on
their boats. Camping is not an option on any of
the islands. |
| | 145 | |
| | 146 | |
| | 147 | ==Rules and Regulations== |
| | 148 | The park is strictly regulated. Outside of the
towns visitors must be accompanied by guides, and
visitors are only allowed on land from sunrise
until sunset. Itineraries must be registered with
the park prior to embarking on a trip, and animals
should never be disturbed; while the wildlife in
the Galapagos will usually ignore your presence, a
general rule of thumb is that if an animal notices
your presence, then you are too close. Two meters
is generally given as a minimum distance to keep
away from animals; you will find that if you are
calm and respectful that many animals will walk
right up to investigate you. |
| | 149 | |
| | 150 | One of the greatest dangers to the islands is
introduced species. The park service is trying to
eliminate goats, rats, cats, dogs, and introduced
plant species on many of the islands, but it is a
difficult battle; after evolving for thousands of
years without predators, the Galapagos wildlife is
not adapted to handle these new species. When
traveling to the islands, do not bring any plant
or animal life with you, and be sure to always
clean your footwear when traveling between islands
to avoid accidentally transferring seeds. |
| | 151 | |
| | 152 | Illegal fishing is another threat to the park.
Although park officials may deny it, illegal
fishing for sharks and sea cucumbers occurs on a
massive scale. The number of fishermen has
increased rapidly over the last few years, while
the number of fish have plunged. Due to ongoing
tensions between fisherman, tourism, and science,
the level of enforcement of fishing laws can vary
greatly, but even when policies are put in place
to limit fishing, enforcement is difficult due to
the resources required to patrol the vast park
area. |
| | 153 | |
| | 154 | Another big threat to the park is the growing
population. Although new rules make it impossible
for people arriving from the mainland to live and
work on the islands, the rules are poorly
enforced, resulting in many people immigrating
from the mainland to make quick money on the
islands. |
| | 155 | |
| | 156 | The codified park rules are: |
| | 157 | |
| | 158 | 1. To visit the National park you must always be
accompanied by a certified Galapagos National park
guide. |
| | 159 | 2. Galapagos is a unique and fragile environment.
Take only photographs and video. Professional
shooting needs authorization from the National
Park. |
| | 160 | 3. Please stay within the limits of the walking
trails, for your safety and that of the flora and
fauna. |
| | 161 | 4. To avoid affecting the wildlife's natural
behavior please avoid getting closer than two
meters to the animals. |
| | 162 | 5. Camping is only allowed in specific sites. If
you wish to camp, you must first obtain a permit
from the Galapagos National Park. |
| | 163 | 6. Help conservation by cooperating with the
authorities in their inspection, monitoring and
control duties. Report any anomalies to the
National Park. |
| | 164 | 7. Do not introduce foreign organisms to the
islands, as these can have a negative impact on
the ecosystem. |
| | 165 | 8. Please do not buy souvenirs which are made from
black coral, sea shells, sea lion teeth, tortoise
shell, volcanic rock or endemic woods. |
| | 166 | 9. Galapagos animals have their own feeding
behavior. Never feed the animals. Feeding them can
be detrimental to their health. |
| | 167 | 10. Galapagos landscapes are beautiful and unique.
Do not spoil them by writing or etching rocks or
trees. |
| | 168 | 11. Do not litter while on the islands. Always
dispose of rubbish in a safe and appropriate way. |
| | 169 | 12. Smoking or making camp fires in the national
park areas is forbidden and can cause devastating
fires. |
| | 170 | 13. Fishing is strictly forbidden, except on those
boats specifically authorised by the Galapagos
National Park. |
| | 171 | 14. Jet skiing, submarines, water skiing, and
aerial tourism are all forbidden. |
| 120 | {| Accommodation | | |
| 121 | |- | | |
| 122 | !TPID!!Property!!Address!!Type!!Latitude!!Longitud
e | | |
| 123 | |- | | |
| 124 | |25879||Los Pinguinos||Barrio Escalesias Puerto
Ayora||Guesthouse||-0.7349802000000||-90.310921600
0000 | | |
| 125 | |- | | |
| 126 | |60842||Hostal Casa de Laura||Galapagos, Puerto
Baquerizo Moreno Callejon 2, Avenida Armada
Nacional||Guesthouse|||| | | |
| 127 | |- | | |
| 128 | |62049||The Jungle Hostal||Ave. Antonio Gil, Via
Centro Crianza de tortugas Puerto Villamil, Isla
Isabela, Galapagos||Guesthouse|||| | | |
| 129 | |- | | |
| 130 | |62169||Casa Hospedaje Germania||Calle Juan
Montalvo y Moises Brito Street Isla Santa Cruz /
Puerto Ayora||Guesthouse|||| | | |
| 131 | |- | | |
| 132 | |62661||The Wooden House Hotel||Via al
Embarcadero||Hotel|||| | | |
| 133 | |- | | |
| 134 | |62720||Hotel Verde Azul||Calle Petrel y Marchena
Barrio Residencila, El Eden||Hotel|||| | | |
| 135 | |- | | |
| 136 | |64982||Caleta Iguana (Casa Rosada)||Av. Antonio
Gil. Puerto Villamil - Isabela||Hotel|||| | | |
| 137 | |} | | |
| 138 | | 172 | |
| 139 | [Photo|69126] | | |
| 140 | | 173 | |
| | 174 | ==External Links== |
| | 175 | * [[http://www.galapagospark.org|National Park
Website]] |
| 141 | There are a few hotels in [b]Puerto Ayora[/b].
Although the vast majority of people sleep on
their boats. Camping is not an option on any of
the islands. | | |
| 142 | | 176 | |
| 143 | | 177 | |
| 144 | | 178 | |